Newt Gingrich said one day after explosive devices were sent to high-profile Democrats and CNN that he believes the media has “earned” President Trump’s label of the “enemy of the people.”
Gingrich, speaking Thursday morning at an event hosted by Axios, said he doesn’t believe Trump’s description is helpful, but added that he thinks some news outlets’ coverage is hostile. The Republican former Speaker of the House from Georgia, a contributor to Fox News, highlighted CNN International, in particular, during his remarks.
{mosads}“There’s no more anti-American network than CNN International,” Gingrich said.
Trump also tweeted earlier Thursday that “a big part” of the anger in society is created by “purposely false and inaccurate reporting” from mainstream media.
The devices were sent to prominent Democrats and CNN on Wednesday. A device was also sent to the New York office of actor Robert De Niro on Thursday, who has also been critical of Trump, and former Vice President Joe Biden.
When Gingrich was asked why some conservatives were claiming without evidence that the devices were sent as part of a Democratic conspiracy, he replied, “because it’s October.”
“And they so deeply dislike the left,” he continued, citing former Attorney General Eric Holder’s comment that when Republicans “go low,” Democrats should “kick them” and Hillary Clinton’s statement about not being civil with the GOP for driving conservatives’ anger.
Gingrich said, however, that he disagreed with that view, and that whoever sent the explosive devices should be prosecuted.
“I think we should be prosecuting people for trespassing if they come into a restaurant,” he said, “and I think we should be prosecuting these people for potential murder.”
Trump condemned “acts or threats of political violence” and called for unity on Wednesday after the suspicious packages were sent to the top Democrats, including former Presidents Obama and Clinton.