CNN's anti-Trump reporting takes dark turn

CNN, whose commentator Donna Brazile famously fed failed Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton questions before the 2016 presidential race debates, on Thursday took a dark turn on the eve of President-elect Donald Trump's inauguration, speculating about an assassination of Trump, incoming Vice President Mike Pence and congressional leaders.

The news network discussed the constitutional line of succession to the presidency in the case of an assassination, or worse yet, a disaster that would kill multiple American leaders.

And then it emphasized that, should such a tragedy occur, it would be an "Obama appointee" who likely would end up in the Oval Office, since Trump's Cabinet members have yet to be confirmed by the Senate.

InfoWars' Paul Joseph Watson criticized the CNN on-air report, titled "Disaster could put Obama cabinet member in Oval Office," which admits that there is no specific threat targeting the inauguration but goes on to speculate "who would be in charge if an attack hit the incoming president … just as the transfer of power is under way."

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Watson said the CNN report "teases the potential for an attack on the inauguration by asserting it would create 'chaos' and 'high theater,' before airing clips from ABC's 'Designated Survivor' show in which Kiefer Sutherland plays an obscure cabinet secretary who is 'unexpectedly thrust into the presidency after an attack at the Capitol during a State of the Union address."

However, Watson asked, "given the huge number of death threats leveled at Trump – including one family friend of Hillary Clinton who was arrested after he threatened to assassinate Trump at the inauguration – is CNN irresponsible in drawing attention to this issue?"

See the report:

While CNN declined to respond to WND's requests for comment, there were others who said such speculation went too far.

WND Vice President and Managing Editor David Kupelian, author of "The Snapping of the American Mind," said that for the last year and a half, the "elite media have portrayed Donald Trump as something between a clown and a monster, with, for example, no fewer than five different Washington Post writers comparing Trump with Adolf Hitler, who murdered 11 million people."

"And since November's election, in which CNN actively and unethically colluded to help Trump's opponent Hillary Clinton win, CNN has been actively publicizing one scheme after another to delegitimize or even overturn the election's results – from Jill Stein's absurd vote recount, to encouraging electors to go 'faithless,' to blaming James Comey, Putin and WikiLeaks, to showcasing the fake news of the century, the notorious anti-Trump 'Russian dossier,'" he said.

"Now, amidst appalling calls for everything from disruption of the inauguration to violence, drone attacks and assassination, here comes CNN's inauguration-eve story informing the world that if somehow Trump and his closest successors were somehow eliminated during the inauguration, an Obama team member would become president.

"At a time when law enforcement is on ultra-high alert over unhinged, suggestible, glory-seeking copycat criminals and terrorists, one has to question why CNN would put out a story like this," he said.

Carl Gallups, a nationally known Baptist pastor and radio host whose latest book is "When The Lion Roars: Understanding the Implications of Ancient Prophecies For Our Time," said: "I can't imagine what might happen to me if I dedicated even a portion of one of my shows, or interviews, to speculating upon the potential assassination of any president-elect just one day away from him taking the oath of office. Especially if that death-speculation went straight to a scenario in which the current president might be able to 'keep the office,' or something near to that, through a cabinet member of his current administration."

Gallups continued: "Then, if I were to continue to speculate upon how drones might be used to 'bomb' the crowd – and warned people of how 'dangerous' it might be to attend the inauguration ... how would I not be visited that very day by men in black suits shoving shiny federal badges in my face?"

Larry Klayman, founder of Judicial Watch and Freedom Watch USA, also commented: "CNN's suggestive assassination of Trump should trigger their CEOs and other officials immediate arrest by the Secret Service! This is criminal! They should then be indicted!"

The CNN report notes a practice that's been around for a long time: having one key member of an administration absent from a major event, such as an inauguration or a State of the Union address, in case of an attack or disaster.

CNN speculates on an incident that would kill Trump, Pence, the House speaker and the president pro tempore of the Senate, pointing out the next in line is the secretary of state. But Trump's nominee, Rex Tillerson hasn't been confirmed. And since John Kerry is scheduled to resign before the inauguration, the succession would fall to another State Department official acting as secretary of state.

The speculation came just as media outlets were reporting on the possibility of a drone bombing of the inauguration.

Thursday's "Today" show reported U.S. Secret Service has set up several anti-drone efforts to protect against a "flying IED" aimed at the crowd.

The reported cited the opinion of an expert from "DroneShield," who would not "feel safe" at the event.

That the possibility of a disaster exists isn't in question. That's why the precautions are taken routinely to prevent all senior members of an administration from being together.

In fact, the London Sun reported Thursday that North Korea's rogue leaders claimed they were "readying two intercontinental ballistic missiles" to take aim at the inauguration.

"Military officials say the rogue state wants to send a 'strategic message' to the incoming U.S. president by timing launches to ruin his big day tomorrow," the report said.

It said satellite images appear to reveal activity at a North Korean nuclear site, and South Korean officials said they were monitoring the developments.

Commenters on a YouTube posting of the CNN broadcast noted the network chief's recent claim that the network's
credibility is higher than ever, and our viewership is higher than ever, and our reporting is as strong as ever."

Of note, according to the Hill, was the fact that CNN was advertising for a reporter to cover "fake news."

It's announcement said, "We're going to be examining the wave of 'fake news' stories and the people behind them, but more than that we're going to be looking at truth – what happened to it, why so many of us no longer believe it, and where those people are going to get their information instead."

The network says, "This writer should live on the Internet."

What do YOU think? What are your thoughts on Inauguration Day? Sound off in today's WND poll!