Anti-Racial Profiling
The Dangers of Misreporting the Attempted Assassination of Donald Trump
The New York Post’s misreporting perpetuated misinformation that has real world impact for the Chinese and broader Asian American community.
In the flurry of activity following the assassination attempt on Donald Trump, the New York Post published an article that incorrectly identified the shooter as a “Chinese man.” While the New York Post updated the article the following day to read “the shooter, identified only as a white male,” and subsequently apologized for the error, the consequences of such reckless misreporting cannot be understated for the Asian American and Asian immigrant community.
From Anti-Asian Sentiment to Racial Profiling, Discrimination, and Violence
In order to fully understand how instances such as the New York Post’s misreporting can lead to discrimination, profiling, and violence, we need only look to the aftermath of the COVID-19 outbreak, in which racially motivated comments poured fuel on the fire of anti-immigrant and anti-Asian sentiment that slowly burned for years, and led to record high rates of anti-Asian hate crimes and hate incidents.
Looking even farther back, we are also not spared a multitude of examples, including —
- “Yellow Peril” and the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882;
- The incarceration of over 120,000 Japanese Americans during World War II;
- The murder of Vincent Chin in 1982 at the height of trade tensions with Japan;
- The scapegoating and violence directed against Arab, Middle Eastern, Muslim, and South Asian communities after 9/11
It is clear that enflamed rhetoric — whether inspired by political posturing or incorrect reporting — only serves to perpetuate a harmful narrative that China and the U.S. are interlocked in a wartime posture that condones harmful actions against Asian Americans and Asian immigrants.
Misinformation and Disinformation
Furthermore, the New York Post’s misreporting perpetuated misinformation that has real world impact for the Chinese and broader Asian American community. During breaking news events like this one, even three days of misinformation (the amount of time it took for the New York Post to issue an apology) can beget distrust and anxiety, and result in harm against Asian immigrants and Asian Americans. In the time between the article’s initial posting and subsequent quiet correction (as well as the final Editor’s Note), social media users rushed to demonize and identify the nonexistent “Chinese man” they believed responsible for the shooting. Many also used this information as further justification for baseless theories that the Chinese Communist Party planned the attack. This type of reckless reporting and subsequent social media response directly fans the flames of xenophobia and puts Asian Americans at risk.
It is critical that in times of uncertainty, we rely on the facts, which include that the FBI released a statement on July 14, 2024, identifying Thomas Matthew Crooks, 20, of Bethel Park, Pennsylvania, as the subject involved in the incident; they did not confirm, comment, or opine on any rationale for the shooting.
What’s Next?
Political violence is never the answer, and candidates from both parties must reject efforts to escalate tensions that would only further sow division among the American public. The New York Post’s misrepresentation of the facts also undermines the spirit and standard of journalistic integrity that every credible reporter should seek to meet, especially in the current political landscape of increasingly heated rhetoric that only serves to further bifurcate our democracy. A path forward must center on thoughtfulness, civility, and mutual respect for the truth. At a time when our shared values of justice, equality, and inclusion are fundamentally threatened, it is critical that the American public come together to ensure the preservation of our democratic institutions.
What Can You Do?
It will take all of us to —
- Report instances of misinformation and disinformation online. False claims can spread like wildfire during heightened crisis periods. As such, it is important to educate yourself and others on how to identify and report misinformation and disinformation on social media platforms, to better ensure that only accurate and verified reporting makes its way to mainstream media.
- Hold journalists and news outlets to the highest standards of reporting. This means calling out misreporting when you see it and calling out those who do not abide by these principles for engaging in irresponsible conduct.
- Catch up on Asian Americans Advancing Justice | AAJC’s latest work on combatting anti-Asian sentiment here.
Asian Americans Advancing Justice | AAJC has a mission to advance the civil and human rights of Asian Americans and to build and promote a fair and equitable society for all. Visit our website at advancingjustice-aajc.org.
