Trump supporter sends pipe bombs to prominent Democrats and CNN after months of Trump rhetoric

Cesar Sayoc, a fervent Trump supporter, began mailing 13 improvised explosive devices to prominent critics of the president, including Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama, Joe Biden, CNN's New York headquarters, and other Democrats Trump had repeatedly attacked at rallies. Sayoc's van was plastered with pro-Trump stickers and images of Trump's critics with crosshairs over their faces. He was arrested on October 26. The devices were sent during a period when Trump had been holding rallies calling the media "the enemy of the people" and encouraging violence against protesters. Sayoc later told investigators he was directly inspired by Trump's rhetoric and attended Trump rallies where he heard the president claim the media was "at war" with his campaign. Trump initially called for unity but then blamed the media for "anger in society" and continued holding rallies with similar rhetoric.

"The media also has a responsibility to set a civilized tone and to stop the endless hostility and constant negative and oftentimes false attacks and stories." — October 26, 2018 rally in North Carolina, one day after pipe bomb suspect's arrest, shifting blame to media