The NY Times and other mainstream outlets normalized Trump's statement that the late Rep. John Dingell went to hell

Written by Zachary Pleat

Published

At his rally in Battle Creek, Michigan, last night during the House vote to impeach him, President Donald Trump suggested the late Rep. John Dingell (D-MI) was “looking up” from hell because his wife, Rep. Debbie Dingell (D-MI), supported Trump’s impeachment. The New York Times and other mainstream media outlets then wrongly normalized Trump’s comment by failing to acknowledge it in headlines and tweets about the rally.

CNN laid out how it happened:

President Donald Trump attacked Democratic Rep. Debbie Dingell and her late husband, Rep. John Dingell, during a rally on Wednesday, implying the former congressman was "looking up" from hell.

"Debbie Dingell, that's a real beauty," Trump said of the congresswoman, noting he was watching her on television during impeachment proceedings.

Trump said that he gave the family the "A-plus treatment" after John Dingell died, and that the congresswoman, who now holds his seat in the House, told Trump during an emotional call following John Dingell's funeral that her husband would have been "thrilled" by the respect shown for him during his funeral and "he's looking down" on the ceremonies.

"Maybe he's looking up," Trump said, drawing some moans and groans from those in Battle Creek, Michigan, about two hours away from Debbie Dingell's district. "Maybe, but let's assume he's looking down."

Congresswoman Dingell later explained on Twitter that Trump’s words severely hurt her.

The New York Times published a tweet and a headline summing up Trump’s rally without mentioning his disgusting comment.

NY Times headline on Trump's rally

Some journalists and writers criticized the Times for normalizing Trump’s outrageous attack:

But the Times was not the only mainstream outlet that normalized Trump’s despicable comment:

The Hill headline on Trump's rally
USA Today headline on Trump's rally
Politico headline on Trump's rally

Some others even treated it as a joke:

BuzzFeed News headline on Trump's rally

Some of these mainstream news outlets, along with others, had also normalized the unhinged six-page rant about impeachment that Trump sent to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) on Tuesday.