CBS is under fire for airing a segment about the January 6 Capitol insurrection just hours after an apparent assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump. The incident took place on Sunday afternoon at Trump’s Florida golf course, where Secret Service agents spotted a rifle barrel emerging from the shrubbery.
The suspect, Ryan Wesley Routh, fled the scene but was later apprehended. Trump was unharmed in the attack. The network’s decision to broadcast a 13-minute segment on the January 6 insurrection during its 60 Minutes program later that evening has drawn criticism from prominent Republicans. Political commentator Steve Cortes expressed his outrage on X (formerly Twitter), saying, “Just hours after the second assassination attempt on President Trump CBS is using their @60Minutes show to attack him as a ‘threat to democracy’ over January 6th.” The post was shared by Trump’s son, Donald Trump Jr., who responded, “WTF is wrong with you people?”
While some were critical, others had a different perspective. User JustVent argued, “There were no assassination attempts; someone simply had a gun 500 yards away from Donald Trump.” The debate over CBS’s timing remains heated, as the network likely did not have enough time to alter the program.
In response to the assassination attempt, Trump reassured his supporters in a campaign statement: “I AM SAFE AND WELL! Nothing will slow me down. I will NEVER SURRENDER!” President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris also condemned the violence. Biden emphasized that political violence has no place in America and that the Secret Service would be provided with all necessary resources to ensure Trump’s safety.
This incident comes two months after a previous assassination attempt at a rally in Pennsylvania, where Trump narrowly escaped injury when a bullet grazed his ear. The shooter was killed by a Secret Service counter-sniper. As the investigation continues, concerns about political violence and security for public figures remain a pressing issue.