Journalists, organizations and others are calling on President Trump to denounce a meme depicting him shooting and stabbing members of the press and others.
The video meme took a scene from “Kingsmen: The Secret Service” and depicted the superimposed Trump entering a “church of fake news” and shooting and stabbing the likes of John McCain, several journalists, and prominent Democrats. Their faces were superimposed as well. It was shown during a conference hosted by a pro-Trump group at the president’s Doral country club in Miami.
The White House Correspondents' Association is among those asking Trump to denounce the meme. Their statement says "We have previously told the President his rhetoric would incite violence. Now we call on him and everybody associated with this conference to denounce this video and affirm that violence has no place in our society.”
Event organizer Alex Phillips denounced its showing as part of a "meme exhibit" with content submitted by third parties,and said the matter is under review. He also stressed it was "shocking" that the “New York Times,” who initially reported about the meme, did not report on other portions of the conference, "Including our panel conversation LITERALLY condemning political violence while claiming to be upset over a meme that was not sanctioned, shown on stage, or approved."
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