Recent Threats Against President’s Family Get Limited Media Coverage, Watchdog Says

A media watch dog is sounding the alarm about the lack of media coverage over threats against the president’s family’s lives.

An intruder found at President Donald Trump’s California golf resort in early August carried detailed schedules of Melania Trump’s activities. Iran put a bounty on Trump’s college-aged son Barron’s head. And the president himself has faced a slew of assassination attempts at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner, the UFC fight at the White House, his Trump International Golf Club, and of course, his Butler, Pennsylvania rally. 

Among the major mainstream TV news outlets, only CBS News 24/7, CNN, and NBC News NOW, and NewsNation covered the threat to Barron Trump, according to Curtis Houck, managing editor at conservative watchdog Media Research Center. 

Among conservative stations, Newsmax 1 and 2, One America News, and Real America’s Voice covered the threat. 

The Secret Service announced Tuesday it was aware of a broadcast by Iranian state media threatening 20-year-old Barron’s life. Iran’s broadcast discussed an alleged plan targeting Barron Trump and alleged that a $10 million bounty had been offered for his killing.

Additionally, Jeanine John Taele, 38, was arrested on Aug. 2, while prowling Trump National Golf Club in Rancho Palos Verdes, California shortly before the president’s visit. He carried schedules for first lady Melania Trump and members of the president’s Secret Service, as well as detailed lists for surviving “off the grid.”

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Los Angeles County Judge John Lonergan Jr. revealed this information on Wednesday, yet this did not become a focus of the news cycle. 

Houck said the media has followed a “glaring” double standard about covering threats against public officials. 

“If these serious threats were made against a Democratic president’s family such as the Obamas, the liberal, elitist press would make sure it’s mentioned, no matter what major story—in this case, Dolly Parton’s passing—was transpiring,” Houck said. “It’s galling to see the broadcast networks acknowledge the threat to the First Son on their streaming platforms with reports from their top correspondents but keep it from their flagship newscasts.”

While Houck said coverage of threats of violence can be difficult, he said the public deserves to hear about these incidents. 

“There is undoubtedly a balance that must be struck between ignoring threats and overhyping them that could spawn copycats. Most Americans would agree,” he said. “However, the American public generally deserves to know of tangible threats that, in the case of both Barron Trump and First Lady Melania Trump, respectively, involved a public video from Iran and someone already arrested the press have previously covered.”