Joy Reid Faces Backlash After Suggesting Trump Rally Shooting Was “Staged”

Former MSNBC host Joy Reid is under fire after questioning the legitimacy of the July 2024 assassination attempt on President Donald Trump during a recent appearance on the MeidasTouch podcast.

Speaking with fellow ex-MSNBC personality Katie Phang, Reid mocked the official account of the shooting in Butler, Pennsylvania — where Trump was grazed by a bullet to the ear, one rallygoer was killed, and others were seriously wounded.

Reid’s Claims

“He’s got these magical doctors who claimed that he was shot in the ear, but his ear, I guess, grew back,” Reid said.

She continued, pointing to inconsistencies she saw in photos and news coverage: “He had a Duplo bandage on one minute, no bandage the next. We can’t get a medical record from this alleged assassination. He was supposed to be shot. We have nothing.”

Phang joined in, ridiculing the event: “Where are the investigative records? One day, he slapped his maxi pad on his ear, the next day, the ear is totally fine.”

Both hosts suggested that the attack — which left former fire chief Corey Comperatore dead after shielding his family from gunfire — may have been fabricated.

Comparing to Past Assassinations

Reid also drew comparisons to historical tragedies.

“We knew almost immediately, almost everything about Kennedy’s assassination. I know more about McKinley’s assassination than I do about this attempt to assassinate Trump when he was a presidential candidate,” Reid claimed. “We’re getting nothing. The mainstream media isn’t demanding his medical records.”

Her remarks circulated widely on social media, with clips posted by journalists and critics.

Confirmed Facts of the Butler Shooting

Despite Reid’s doubts, law enforcement and eyewitness accounts paint a very different picture.

On July 13, 2024, a gunman opened fire during Trump’s campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania. Trump was hit in the ear, requiring emergency medical attention. Corey Comperatore was killed while protecting his family, and two other attendees were injured.

Video footage of the attack, along with testimony from first responders and attendees, confirmed the sequence of events. Federal authorities and the Secret Service have consistently affirmed that it was a genuine assassination attempt.

Trump himself has spoken openly about the incident, often praising Comperatore’s heroism and calling the rally a reminder of America’s resilience.

Backlash to Reid’s Comments

Reid’s dismissal of the confirmed facts has drawn sharp criticism.

Jason Cohen, a journalist who shared the podcast clip, wrote on X: “Ex-MSNBC hosts Joy Reid and Katie Phang propagate conspiracy Trump WASN’T SHOT and MOCK attempt on his life.”

Conservatives have accused Reid of minimizing not only the president’s injury but also the sacrifice of Comperatore, whose death has been widely honored as an act of bravery.

Even some media analysts have questioned whether Reid’s comments cross the line between skepticism and conspiracy theory, particularly given the sensitive nature of political violence.

Reid’s Media Trajectory

Joy Reid was dismissed from MSNBC in 2024 after years of controversy over inflammatory statements and low ratings. Since then, she has remained active on podcasts and left-leaning platforms, often using them to critique conservatives and question mainstream narratives.

Her latest remarks fit a broader pattern of using provocative commentary to generate headlines. But critics say the tactic risks spreading misinformation at a time when the public is already polarized.

Broader Concerns About Conspiracy Theories

Reid’s podcast comments are the latest flashpoint in an ongoing debate about the role of media figures in amplifying unsupported claims.

High-profile acts of political violence — from the attack on Rep. Steve Scalise at a congressional baseball practice to the Butler shooting — have often been met with fringe theories online. Experts warn that when prominent media personalities echo such claims, it gives them undue legitimacy.

Critics also note the timing. As Trump continues to serve his second term, security concerns remain heightened. Casting doubt on documented assassination attempts, they argue, undermines both public trust and respect for the victims.

The Bottom Line

Federal investigators, video evidence, and eyewitness testimony all affirm that the July 2024 Butler rally shooting was a real attempt on Donald Trump’s life.

Reid’s comments, however, dismiss these facts in favor of speculation about missing records and inconsistencies in Trump’s medical care.

For many, the remarks highlight the dangers of media figures embracing conspiratorial rhetoric — particularly when lives were lost and the evidence is clear.