June 15, 2020 (LifeSiteNews) – After weeks of lionizing massively crowded Black Lives Matter (BLM) protests across the United States with little regard for “social distancing” or other draconian coronavirus lockdown measures, the mainstream media are criticizing President Donald Trump’s reelection campaign for its decision to resume the Republican incumbent’s trademark in-person rallies.
Trump’s first rally since the COVID-19 outbreak is slated for this weekend in Tulsa, Oklahoma, Newsweek reports. The campaign says that, as a precaution, all attendees will be given a temperature check before being allowed to enter, and will be given free masks and hand sanitizer.
Many stories from outlets such as Politico, The Guardian, CNBC, and others have framed their stories around tension between the rallies and the public health risks of large public crowds. The Associated Press ran the headline “Trump rally called ‘dangerous move’ in age of coronavirus,” which was picked up by ABC News, US News & World Report, and others. The New York Times ran with the headline, “Events Like Trump Rally Are ‘Perfect Storm’ for Viral Spread, Experts Say.”
For the most part, the media have not allowed COVID-19 fears to get in the way of their sympathetic coverage of the BLM protests, for which “public health experts” have also carved out an exception:
Little over an hour apart. pic.twitter.com/K2a7fGRNDd
— Mark Hemingway (@Heminator) June 15, 2020
Thousands, Clad in White, Rally in Support of Black Trans Lives Outside Brooklyn Museum https://t.co/r2VPpqjZ3M pic.twitter.com/UfI8Llch5h
— NBC10 Philadelphia (@NBCPhiladelphia) June 14, 2020
Protests continued in New York City for the 11th day on Sunday, with demonstrations in Central Brooklyn, Williamsburg, Lower Manhattan and near Gracie Mansion.
Follow the latest from New York here. https://t.co/IY6IIqxvEj
— The New York Times (@nytimes) June 8, 2020
Protests initially ignited by the death of George Floyd at the hands of Minneapolis police continue, as protesters in the U.S. seek to call attention to the deaths of two more black men and Black Lives Matter demonstrations unfold in London and Paris. https://t.co/mq48we5Z8R
— The Associated Press (@AP) June 14, 2020
Trump called out the apparent double standard on Monday, declaring that won’t deter him or his supporters from pressing on:
The Far Left Fake News Media, which had no Covid problem with the Rioters & Looters destroying Democrat run cities, is trying to Covid Shame us on our big Rallies. Won’t work!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 15, 2020
As of June 15, the United States is estimated to have seen more than 2.1 million COVID-19 cases, with more than 118,000 deaths and 875,000 recoveries. More than 40 percent of those deaths have come from nursing homes.