Patrick Thomas Egan, 39, a Colorado man, allegedly chased TV news reporter Jaron Alex for 40 miles before attacking him. According to the Guardian, the incident occurred in Grand Junction, Colorado, when Egan, a taxi driver, allegedly assaulted Alex, a TV reporter for KKCO/KJCT. Egan, who claimed to be a Marine, pulled up next to Alex at a stoplight and said, “This is President Trump’s America now! I swore an oath to protect this country from people like you.” ” and asked if he was a U.S. citizen. ”
After Mr. Alex drove back to the news station, Mr. Egan chased him, tackled him to the ground, put him in a headlock and began choking him. Fortunately, a colleague intervened and he was saved from the attack. Witness reports said Alex appeared to lose the ability to breathe during the assault, which was partially captured on surveillance video.
Egan was arrested on suspicion of bias crimes, second-degree assault, and harassment. He is scheduled to appear in court to face formal charges. Alex believes he was targeted because of his Pacific Islander heritage.
Notably, Donald Trump’s hostile rhetoric toward the press has been a recurring theme throughout his presidency and beyond. He has repeatedly described the media as “the enemy of the people,” “a threat to democracy,” “fake” and “distorted.” Such language has been used in the past by authoritarian leaders such as Stalin, Hitler, and Mao Zedong to delegitimize the press and sow confusion among the population.
Trump’s attacks on the media have been consistent throughout his presidency, from 2017 to 2021, and continued as he sought re-election in November. His rhetoric has contributed to a toxic environment for journalists and the media, with many facing harassment, intimidation, and even violence.
The Freedom of the Press Foundation reports that there have been 75 incidents of assault against journalists since January 1, a 70% increase from 2023. This alarming increase in violence is further highlighted by a recent study conducted by the International Women’s Media Foundation. According to the survey, 36% of respondents reported receiving threats or physical violence, and 28% reported facing legal threats or legal action.
