CNN TV-channel has considered a scenario of an assassination attempt on US president-elect Donald Trump, his vice-president and senior officials of the Congress during the inauguration on Friday.
US president-elect Donald Trump (Photo: CNN / Nigel Parry)
The CNN TV-channel showed a reportage about inheritance of the presidential powers in the case of a murder of Donald Trump during his inauguration on Friday.
Reporter Brian Todd considered a scenario of an assassination attempt not only on the president-elect, but also on the vice-president and senior officials of the Congress. As CNN reminded, according to the US Constitution, if a president and vice president are killed or incapacitated, a speaker of the House of Representatives and temporary chairman of the Senate will take their seats. If something happens to them too, then ministers, starting with a Secretary of State, will execute the office of a president.
For this reason, in the afternoon on January 20, Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs, Tom Shannon, a representative of the Obama’s administration, will start to temporarily perform duties of a head of the State Department.
In addition, in preparation for really catastrophic events, a so-called ‘successor on-duty’, usually, one of the ministers, is chosen. He does not attend an inauguration and stays in a distant place under guard. His name is not disclosed.
According to CNN, this ‘successor on-duty’ also will not be from the Trump’s team, as the Senate has not still confirmed anyone from his team in this office.
As political analyst John Fortier told CNN, there are two line of succession at the inauguration: one of them is the Obama’s administration, which is still in power, and another one will not appear until Donald Trump is inaugurated and the Senate approves his appointments.
The CNN’s reportage caused a wave of indignation in social networks. Internet users leave angry comments under the video on the CNN’s YouTube channel and criticize the TV-channel on Facebook and Twitter.
“So apparently CNN thinks it’s okay to openly advocate for the assassination of Pres Elect Trump to keep the Obama administration in power,” one of the commentators wrote.
So apparently CNN thinks it’s okay to openly advocate for the assassination of Pres Elect Trump to keep the Obama administration in power.
— Mateo (@mateoqme) January 19, 2017
“CNN calling for the assassination of President Trump? Why am I not surprised,” Gwen wrote.
CNN calling for the assassination of President Trump? Why am I not surprised.
— Gwen ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ FFS! (@CatO9Tailz) January 19, 2017
Some commentators noted that the topic of an assassination attempt on the president interested not only CNN. “Last night PBS shows Lincoln assassination doc. Tonight on CNN: What happens if Trump and appointees suddenly die on Friday for some reason,” Trent Collicutt wrote.
Last night PBS shows Lincoln assassination doc. Tonight on CNN: What happens if Trump and appointees suddenly die on Friday for some reason?
— Trent Collicutt (@tcollicutt) January 19, 2017
