A surprising voice of reason emerged this week as a reporter from the typically liberal Vox urged the media to dial down its exaggerated headlines on former President Donald Trump’s latest comments regarding ex-Congresswoman Liz Cheney.

As reported by Trending Politics News, Zack Beauchamp took to X, advising his media peers to consider Trump’s words in context rather than fanning the flames of outrage by implying he suggested Cheney should face a firing squad.

On Thursday, Trump labeled Cheney a “radical war hawk,” referencing her staunch support of the Afghanistan and Iraq conflicts — a position many liberals had previously criticized her for.

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“Trump is talking about giving her a weapon,” Beauchamp clarified, adding, “Typically, people put in front of firing squads aren’t armed.” Beauchamp’s point underscored the importance of truthfulness, even when covering controversial figures like Trump.

Folks, Trump didn’t threaten to execute Liz Cheney. He actually was calling her a chickenhawk, something liberals said about her for ages.

Look at the context — Trump is talking about giving her a weapon. Typically, people put in front of firing squads aren’t armed. pic.twitter.com/AmKWkAVfur

— Zack Beauchamp (@zackbeauchamp) November 1, 2024

Speaking at a rally in Glendale, Arizona, Trump vented his frustrations with Cheney, who he believes has betrayed Republican values, especially given her outspoken role in the January 6 committee.

“She’s a radical war hawk,” Trump told the crowd, continuing, “Let’s put her with a rifle, standing there with nine barrels shooting at her. Let’s see how she feels about it.”

Trump’s clear disdain for Cheney’s interventionist policies led to the rhetorical flourish.

Despite the context, many media outlets quickly published headlines that implied Trump had crossed a line into promoting violence.

Here’s the full context of the Liz Cheney clip.

Trump was clearly talking about sending Liz Cheney to war since she loves war.

The media is saying he called for her to be executed.

Total lie from the media. pic.twitter.com/j7woj6qy0w

— Joey Mannarino (@JoeyMannarinoUS) November 1, 2024

Politico claimed Trump’s remarks represented a “reverts to violent rhetoric,” while Reuters ran with the headline, “Trump suggests Liz Cheney should face firing squad for her foreign policy stance.”

The frenzied headlines only grew when Cheney seized on the comments, proclaiming, “This is how dictators destroy free nations. They threaten those who speak against them with death.”

This is how dictators destroy free nations. They threaten those who speak against them with death. We cannot entrust our country and our freedom to a petty, vindictive, cruel, unstable man who wants to be a tyrant. #Womenwillnotbesilenced #VoteKamala https://t.co/URH5s929Sa

— Liz Cheney (@Liz_Cheney) November 1, 2024

Cheney added that entrusting the country to a “petty, vindictive, cruel, unstable man who wants to be a tyrant” was a direct threat to freedom.

Trump said Liz Cheney and all the war pigs should be the ones going to war and the frontlines. And of course, this is the lie they come up with. https://t.co/tvNc1ZhNeH

— Catturd ™ (@catturd2) November 1, 2024

Vice President Kamala Harris’s campaign followed suit, claiming Trump’s “nine barrels” comment was a reference to a firing squad. But for Beauchamp, this kind of hyperbole is counterproductive, obscuring Trump’s actual message in favor of generating clicks.

“Trump does so many offensive things and makes so many anti-democratic promises that it’s actually counterproductive to get outraged about fake ones,” Beauchamp emphasized on X.

It is not “defending” Trump to describe what he said accurately — it is basic intellectual honesty.

Telling the truth is how we in the media retain our credibility, especially when we frequently (and rightfully!) criticize Trumphttps://t.co/TTDaYWRCy5

— Zack Beauchamp (@zackbeauchamp) November 1, 2024

He argued that honest reporting is essential, even when covering someone as polarizing as Trump. “Telling the truth is how we in the media retain our credibility, especially when we frequently (and rightfully!) criticize Trump,” he noted.

Trump did NOT call for Liz Cheney to be executed.

This is what’s so wrong with our politics today. Look, you know how I feel about Trump, and I’ve been out there every day for 2-3 months campaigning my ass off to help get @KamalaHarris elected, but this short clip is so… https://t.co/MIDckr5CmR

— Joe Walsh (@WalshFreedom) November 1, 2024

Meanwhile, Harris’s team has leaned heavily into these media interpretations in their campaign messaging. Alongside Trump’s remarks on Cheney, Harris’s allies recently pointed to a comment by Trump at Madison Square Garden, where a comedian joked about Puerto Rico as a “floating island of garbage.”

Harris’s campaign saw it as an opportunity to rally Puerto Rican voters in swing states, further painting Trump as out of touch.

Yet, the Biden-Harris administration faces its own controversies. President Biden recently referred to MAGA supporters as “garbage,” and his press team was called out after publishing an altered transcript against the objections of the White House stenographer, a potential federal law violation.

As the campaigns near their final days, media narratives continue to fuel the fire on both sides — but some journalists are calling for a return to accuracy and integrity, a refreshing plea amid an increasingly polarized news cycle.

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