Morning Joe and The Daily Show cancel Monday editions after Trump assassination attempt

Both Trump and Joe Biden called for “unity” following the former president’s assassination attempt

Joe Sommerlad
Monday 15 July 2024 15:33 BST
Comments
Related: Joe Biden appeals for unity after assassination attempt on Donald Trump

Support truly
independent journalism

Our mission is to deliver unbiased, fact-based reporting that holds power to account and exposes the truth.

Whether $5 or $50, every contribution counts.

Support us to deliver journalism without an agenda.

Louise Thomas

Louise Thomas

Editor

MSNBC and Comedy Central have cancelled Monday airings of Morning Joe and The Daily Show following the attempted assassination of Donald Trump on Saturday.

Trump, 78, was struck by a bullet in the right ear during an outdoor campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, on Saturday evening.

The bloodied former president was rushed from the stage by Secret Service agents. He was treated in hospital for minor injuries.

A rally-goer was killed and two others critically injured. The shooter, Thomas Matthew Crooks, 20,was shot dead by snipers from his perch on a rooftop outside of the event’s security perimeter.

Donald Trump is rushed offstage during a rally on July 13, 2024 in Butler, Pennsylvania after being shot
Donald Trump is rushed offstage during a rally on July 13, 2024 in Butler, Pennsylvania after being shot (Getty Images)

Both Trump and Joe Biden called for “unity” following the assassination attempt.

The president delivered a rare address from the Oval Office on Sunday night calling on all sides to “lower the temperature” across the political sphere.

MSNBC cancelled Monday’s edition of its popular breakfast show, hosted by anchors Joe Scarborough and Mika Brzezinski, out of concern that guests could make any insensitive comments following the shooting, CNN reported.

“Given the gravity and complexity of this unfolding story, NBC News, NBC News NOW and MSNBC have remained in rolling breaking news coverage since Saturday evening,” a NBCUniversal News Group spokesperson said.

“As we continue to cover this story into the week, the networks will continue to cross simulcast, alternating between NBC News, NBC News NOW and ‘MSNBC Reports,’ so there is one news feed covering this developing situation.”

A post on X from Monday Joe said that the show will return on Tuesday.

Anchor Joe Scarborough pictured on MSNBC’s Morning Joe
Anchor Joe Scarborough pictured on MSNBC’s Morning Joe (MSNBC)

The Daily Show also cancelled its Monday program, according to the show’s X account, and said it would return on Tuesday from the New York studio.

The program, hosted by Jon Stewart, had been expected to broadcast this week directly from the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Trump is expected to formally accept the GOP nomination for president later this week.

“Our apologies for the inconvenience, but due to logistical issues and the evolving situation in Milwaukee, we need to reschedule our events on the ground in Wisconsin and will look to make those up in the coming weeks,” the post read.

In the UK, Channel 4 pulled a vintage episode of The Simpsons on Sunday, titled “Lisa the Iconoclast”, because it features a joke referencing a political assassination.

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in