CBS Reporter Claims PTSD From Trump Supporters' Post-Shooting Rage in Butler Rally

CBS News Capitol Hill correspondent Scott MacFarlane claimed on Chuck Todd's podcast that he was diagnosed with PTSD shortly after the July 2024 assassination attempt on President Donald Trump, not due to the shooting itself but because of the hostile reaction from some Trump supporters at the rally in Butler, Pennsylvania. MacFarlane expressed fear for his life, saying that certain crowd members blamed the media for the attack and threatened violence against reporters, and that only President Trump's triumphant reaction saved them. This diagnosis and trauma leave were met with skepticism by some observers who noted that a PTSD diagnosis typically requires a longer duration of symptoms. MacFarlane's remarks sparked debate over the media's portrayal of the event, especially since the President himself rarely discusses the incident beyond attributing his survival to divine intervention. The media's focus on their own trauma contrasted sharply with the fatal consequences of the attack, which killed a supporter and wounded others, highlighting the polarized interpretations of the rally's aftermath. The discussion underscores tensions between the press and Trump supporters, with some viewing the media as victims while others emphasize the broader national impact.