Telemundo Pushes False Claim That Terror Attacks Benefit Trump

Written by Media Matters Staff

Published

Telemundo’s Noticiero Telemundo falsely reported that the recent terror attacks in New York, New Jersey, and Minnesota would “benefit Donald Trump” because of the Republican presidential nominee’s “strong words” against terrorism. Political analyst Victoria DeFrancesco said that “when there is fear from a terror attack, people want a heavy hand to be leader,” and Telemundo correspondent Angie Sandoval suggested that taking a hard-line stance on terrorism “could become more dangerous" for Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton "than for Trump.”

In fact, there’s no evidence that terror attacks help Trump, and data has shown that Clinton’s poll numbers have improved more than Trump’s after previous attacks. Telemundo cited one poll that found slightly more voters trusted Trump to combat terrorism, but a different poll found -- by a wider margin -- that more voters said they trusted Clinton over Trump on terrorism. Furthermore, national security experts have consistently warned that Trump’s reckless anti-Muslim rhetoric would be counter-productive in the fight against ISIS. From the September 19 edition of Telemundo’s Noticiero Telemundo:

Translated transcript:

MARIA CELESTE ARRARÁS (CO-HOST): Of course, the issue of terrorism has forcefully burst into the presidential campaign. Both Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump proposed measures to avoid attacks such as those of the weekend, but according to a poll, voters think Trump would confront terrorists better than Clinton. Angie Sandoval explains.

ANGIE SANDOVAL (CORRESPONDENT): With less than 50 days until the election and with the polls very tight, the way to confront domestic terrorism could tilt the balance towards Clinton or Trump. That's why today the Republican candidate said that controlling immigration is an issue of national security. Meanwhile, Clinton said she would go after those responsible, but respect Muslim Americans who obey the law.

DR. VICTORIA DEFRANCESCO (POLITICAL ANALYST): This is going to benefit Donald Trump, and we have seen that in the polls already that his strong words against terrorism have helped him.

SANDOVAL: According to the polls, despite the majority of voters believing that Hillary Clinton would be a better president, they trust more in Trump to combat terrorism.

DEFRANCESCO: When there is fear from a terror attack, people want a heavy hand to be leader.

SANDOVAL: And this wouldn't be the first time. In 2004, the threat of another attack by Osama bin Laden made Americans re-elect George Bush, and in that same year in Spain, the worst bombing in the history of that country defined the elections and caused the defeat of the governing party, which had been the favorite in the polls. Clenching the fist against terrorism could become more dangerous for Clinton than for Trump. The Democratic candidate does not have the youth vote, and this issue could drive away young people much more.