The Onion Mocked for Satirizing Assassination Attempt on Trump

Prominent conservative figures condemned the satire outlet The Onion for making light of the tragic death of a firefighter at a Trump rally, with some calling it "evil" and "classless."

The Onion, a satirical news website known for its biting humor, drew the ire of social media users after it shared an X post mocking the assassination attempt on former President Trump. The post, intended to satirize Trump's claim that people don't leave his rallies, joked that they were "carried out in body bags," a clear reference to the death of Pennsylvania firefighter Joey Comperatore, who was killed by a stray round at the rally.

Many X users failed to understand the satirical nature of the post, condemning The Onion for mocking the tragedy and grieving family. Conservative activist Libs of TikTok labeled the post "evil," while MRCTV Managing Editor Brittany Hughes called it "classy." Conservative filmmaker and commentator Robby Starbuck demanded that The Onion delete the post, calling the site "evil ghouls."

The Onion Mocked for Satirizing Assassination Attempt on Trump

The Onion's satire stemmed from an exchange between Vice President Kamala Harris and Trump during the presidential debate. Harris had taunted Trump about attendees leaving his rallies early, prompting Trump to dispute her claim and boast about the size of his crowds. The Onion capitalized on this back-and-forth with its satirical fact-check, stating "TRUMP: ‘People don’t leave my rallies.’ TRUE: They’re carried out in body bags."

In addition to Comperatore's death, two other rallygoers were injured in the assassination attempt. Trump narrowly escaped injury when a round from suspect Thomas Crooks' AR-15 hit him in the ear, barely missing his skull.

The Onion Mocked for Satirizing Assassination Attempt on Trump

Despite the widespread condemnation of The Onion's post, Kyle Mann, editor-in-chief of fellow satire site "The Babylon Bee," defended the humor, stating "the joke is a fireman got killed for supporting Trump. Get it?"

The Onion has not responded to Fox News Digital's request for comment.

The Onion Mocked for Satirizing Assassination Attempt on Trump

The incident has once again highlighted the challenges faced by satirical websites in navigating the boundaries of humor and tragedy. As the line between satire and insensitivity becomes increasingly blurred, outlets like The Onion may face growing scrutiny for their content.