Hostility in “Trump’s America” Attacks and Arrests Target Journalists

December 21, 2024 – USA –

In Grand Junction, Colorado, internal distress erupted when 39-year-old Patrick Thomas Egan allegedly stalked and assaulted TV reporter Ja’Ronn Alex, forcefully trying to strangle him outside the KKCO/KJCT studio. Throughout the incident, Egan reportedly shouted, “Are you even a U.S. citizen? This is Trump’s America now! I’m a Marine, and I took an oath to protect this country from people like you!” Alex, who is of Pacific Islander descent and a native of Detroit, believed the motive was racially driven.

According to police and witness accounts documented in surveillance video, the confrontation began when Egan followed Alex’s news vehicle for approximately 40 miles from Delta to Grand Junction. Pulling up beside him at a stoplight, Egan launched the verbal attack and physically subdued Alex in a headlock, endangering his breathing until colleagues intervened.

Egan was arrested and faces charges including second-degree assault by strangulation, harassment, and bias-motivated crimes—ethnic intimidation constituting a felony. His bond was set at $20,000. Mental health surfaced in court, where Egan’s lawyer highlighted his two-decade history of psychological struggles and ongoing treatment.

Community response was swift. In January 2025, local supporters rallied outside the Mesa County Justice Center in sub-freezing temperatures, calling for solidarity with Alex and denouncing intimidation cloaked in political slogans. The Freedom of the Press Foundation reported a dramatic 70% increase in journalist assaults during 2024, linking rising threats to hostile public rhetoric.

This attack, resonating with President Trump’s characterization of the media as “the enemy of the people,” highlights how such incendiary language may embolden individuals to perpetrate violence. The assault underscores an intensifying environment of animosity toward journalists, fueled by divisive political messaging.

Looking ahead, Egan’s upcoming hearings and the broader legal response to bias-motivated crime will be pivotal. The case prompts urgent reflection on the responsibilities of leaders in shaping public discourse—words wield profound power—and the need to reinforce protections for journalists facing intimidation and violence.

Reference –

https://apnews.com/article/tv-reporter-attack-trumps-america-40c4c3622bf85baef9cefbd50d50fcec

Man arrested on suspicion of bias-motivated assault of Grand Junction journalist