Media outlets have speculated on a potential drone attack during President-elect Donald Trump’s inauguration on Friday, Jan. 20.
A report on the “Today” show on Thursday indicated that U.S. Secret Service agents have set up anti-drone installations out of concern of a “flying IED” that could be used to attack the crowd during the Inauguration Day ceremony.
The report included a comment from an official from DroneShield, a company that serves to protect against drones, who said that the inauguration on Friday “is not something I would feel safe at,” as the Washington Examiner reported.
The report was headlined, “Drone Danger At Inauguration? Dealing with a new high-flying security threat,” and it received backlash on social media. “When strapped with a bomb, a worse case scenario especially with hundreds of thousands of people gathered at one spot like the Inauguration,” the report says.
Commenters were critical of the drone report and the media in general.
“The only way to stop this insane, propaganda media is to turn them off. They have done everything possible to divide our Nation and cause chaos for President Elect Trump. TURN THEM OFF,” wrote one person.
Added another: “They should be arrested for inciting violence.” Added another: “Just more liberal BS.”
Meanwhile, CNN received extensive backlash for a report on who would take power if Trump and other top-level officials, including Vice President-elect Mike Pence, were assassinated as the inauguration is taking place.
CNN noted that if Trump, Vice President-elect Mike Pence, House Speaker Paul Ryan, and president pro tempore are killed, then the line of succession is turned over to the cabinet, starting with the Secretary of State John Kerry. Since Trump’s cabinet wouldn’t have yet been confirmed, Under Secretary for Political Affairs Tom Shannon—an Obama appointee—would be in line to take Kerry’s place.
The U.S. Secret Service has said there’s no credible threat against Trump’s inauguration, although possibly thousands of demonstrators are heading to Washington, D.C., to protest Trump.
After it was posted on CNN’s YouTube channel, the video saw an incredible number of “thumbs-down” ratings.
And the comments were overwhelmingly critical of CNN. “Flagged for inciting violence,” wrote one person. “This is really morbid, something we need to know,” wrote another sarcastically. “Totally not suggesting anything here, huh CNN?” asked another.
