Minutes after news broke of a tragic shooting in Christchurch, New Zealand (at what ended up being at least two mosques) during the second hour of CNN Tonight and with almost no information for the shooter or shooters, Intercept columnist Mehdi Hasan claimed that “far-right terrorism” was on the rise in the United States and blamed President Trump for attacks both here and abroad.
After listening to New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern deliver a press conference on the shooting, Hasan was the first guest host Don Lemon went to and cited his guest’s Muslim beliefs.
“And I think to kind of talk about the story we talked about before in terms of Trump's rhetoric as well. Western government has turned a blind eye to domestic terrorism, to domestic far-right terrorism,” Hasan proclaimed.
Without citing his sources, Hasan suggested the “stats” show that “here in the U.S.” “far-right terrorism” was responsible for “more attacks, more casualties from domestic terrorist groups -- far-right groups, than there are quote-unquote jihadist or Islamist groups.”
According to Hasan, not only was Trump’s rhetoric responsible for attacks in the U.S., he was responsible for attacks in other countries:
You have Muslim victims of terror in New Zealand. I mentioned the attack in Canada -- Quebec City shortly after Trump was inaugurated, there's been attempted attacks and attacks in Minnesota and various places across the U.S. We do need to start taking this seriously. Crimes against minorities, Jewish groups, against Muslim communities, against people of color are on the rise in Britain, across western Europe, United States, Canada, Australia, and now sadly New Zealand.
Despite suggesting “politicians” needed to “deal with their language”, Hasan’s only example was Trump, citing the pipe bombs sent to CNN and other Democrats last year:
I mean, less than six months ago we know one of his big supporters sent pipe bombs in the mail to dozens of people who Trump had personally attacked and demonized. Who was driving around in a van with pro-Trump imagery and anti-CNN imagery. We know lots of far-right attackers have claimed to be Trump supporters in recent months.
“So, this is not just about Trump but about politicians especially on the right taking seriously this problem and really being careful about their language at the very minimum,” he added.
It’s hypocritical for members of the liberal media to say it’s only Trump or right-wing politicians that needed to “be careful about their language” when they demonize the right and inflame the emotions of their liberal viewers. Especially considering that during the height of the 2018 midterms, there was an upsurge in politically motived attacks against Republican politicians and candidate. Of course, the liberal media largely ignored those.
The transcript is below, click "expand" to read:
CNN Tonight
March 14, 2019
11:14:47 p.m. EasternDON LEMON: Now, you're listening now to a briefing from the New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern talking about the shooting, a very serious situation, a firearm situation, a firearm incident in Christchurch. Again that's according to the Prime Minister and police as well. They're saying the city of Christchurch is in lockdown. Also, all schools have been placed on lockdown as well. And they're waiting to get more information, asking people to stay in place. Asking people to lockdown even though families may be separated. And this is reportedly this incident happened at a mosque, and there's a possibility of a second shooting that's not been confirmed yet, but we're working on getting it.
Let's get back now to Matthew Rosenberg, Juliette Kayyem, and also Hasan Mehdi – Mehdi Hasan.
Listen, let’s talk about this. You heard the Prime Minister. I’m going to bring you in Mehi because this kind of thing as you said before is personal to you and it speaks to the violence that is going on in our culture.
MEHDI HASAN: Very much so. And I think to kind of talk about the story we talked about before in terms of Trump's rhetoric as well. Western government has turned a blind eye to domestic terrorism, to domestic far-right terrorism. We know from stats, for example, here in the U.S. that there are more attacks, more casualties from domestic terrorist groups -- far right groups, than there are quote-unquote jihadist or Islamist groups.
You have Muslim victims of terror in New Zealand. I mentioned the attack in Canada -- Quebec City shortly after Trump was inaugurated, there's been attempted attacks and attacks in Minnesota and various places across the U.S.
We do need to start taking this seriously. Crimes against minorities, Jewish groups, against Muslim communities, against people of color are on the rise in Britain, across western Europe, United States, Canada, Australia, and now sadly New Zealand.
And that requires politicians to take the problem seriously and also to deal with their language. You asked Matthew earlier about, is there someone out there tonight who’s going to hear Trump's rhetoric and act on it?
I mean, less than six months ago we know one of his big supporters sent pipe bombs in the mail to dozens of people who Trump had personally attacked and demonized. Who was driving around in a van with pro-Trump imagery and anti-CNN imagery. We know lots of far-right attackers have claimed to be Trump supporters in recent months.
So, this is not just about Trump but about politicians especially on the right taking seriously this problem and really being careful about their language at the very minimum.
