Ariel Zilber
A photo editor at major news outlet said media outlets should scale back on running the iconic image of former President Donald Trump pumping his fist after surviving an assassination attempt, calling it “free PR” for his reelection bid, according to a report
The unnamed journalist believes the historic photo — showing a bloodied Trump back on his feet moments after a bullet pierced his ear during a rally in Pennsylvania on Saturday — could be a form of “photoganda” that could “further their agenda, despite the photographers’ intent of capturing a news event,” Axios reported.
Several photos snapped by Evan Vucci of the Associated Press, Anna Moneymaker of Getty and Doug Mills of the New York Times have gone viral.
“The amount that publications have been using” the dramatic images “is kind of free PR for Trump in a way,” said the unnamed editor, who works for media outlet that “gets millions of visitors everyday.
“I don’t think we discussed enough about what these photos could mean.” the journalist told Axios.
The photos taken by Vucci are particularly poignant since some of them show Trump pumping his fist with the American flag hoisted from a crane in the background.
The photo editor who spoke to Axios said that it was “dangerous for media organizations to keep sharing” the images “despite how good” they are.
The unnamed editor said that when the shooting took place, “no one was talking about how these photos could impact public perception in the rush to get it out.”
Another photographer who has worked on a freelance basis for several major publications told Axios that they were concerned the photos would be used in the service of a “propaganda machine” that would seek to paint Trump as a “martyr.”
Vucci and Moneymaker both shot photos of a bleeding Trump gesturing with his fist toward the crowd of supporters in Butler, Pa.
Mills is the photographer who captured the incredible image of the the bullet fired by gunman Matthew Thomas Crooks as it whizzed toward his head.
Mills said Monday he didn’t realize he captured the historic photo during the attempted assassination of Trump until after an editor spotted the apparent path of a bullet that was fired by Crooks from a nearby roof.
Here’s the latest on the assassination attempt against Donald Trump:
Crooks, a 20-year-old loner, fired off eight shots, killing a 50-year-old volunteer firefighter and wounding two other men.
He was shot dead by police snipers.
The Post has sought comment from the Trump campaign.
This post was originally posted by New York Post
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