President Donald Trump has once again praised police for shooting MSNBC journalist Ali Velshi with a rubber bullet during protests in Minneapolis. Speaking at a rally in Pennsylvania on Tuesday, Trump described the incident as a 'beautiful sight' and incorrectly stated that Velshi worked for CNN.
Trump recalled the moment Velshi was struck while covering protests following the death of George Floyd. 'Remember that beautiful sight? The street was a mess,' Trump said, drawing applause and laughter from supporters. He also praised police for manhandling journalists, mocking reporters who claim they are being mistreated.
This is not the first time Trump has celebrated the incident. At a rally in Minnesota last week, he called it 'the most beautiful thing' and linked it to 'law and order'. Velshi, who was hit in the knee by a rubber bullet, not a tear gas canister as Trump claimed, responded on Twitter, questioning what law he had broken while covering a peaceful march.
MSNBC condemned Trump's remarks, stating that mocking a journalist for an injury sustained while informing the public endangers journalists and undermines democratic freedoms. Trump also criticised Representative Ilhan Omar and claimed that Minneapolis would have been destroyed without the National Guard.
