The New York Times changed the headline on the front page of its Tuesday’s paper about President Trump’s threat to deploy the military amid nationwide protests after sparking controversy with the first rendition.
On Monday night, New York Times print editor Tom Jolly previewed the front-page headline, which initially read, “As Chaos Spreads, Trump Vows To ‘End It Now,'” but it quickly received flak for failing to acknowledge the president’s militarized and forceful reaction to the protests.
The new headline, which was identified by the Washington Examiner on Tuesday morning, reads: “Trump Threatens To Send Troops Into States.”
The original headline drew criticism from Democratic Sen. Brian Schatz of Hawaii, and Reps. Ilhan Omar of Minnesota and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York.
Schatz said the paper’s “headline writers are going to Both Sides the country to death,” while Omar labeled it “insanely embarrassing,” and Ocasio-Cortez stated, “You’ve got to be kidding me.”
Tomorrow’s @nytimes tonight (first edition):
As Chaos Spreads, Trump Vows to “End It Now”#nytimes pic.twitter.com/D4vV55KKEY
— Tom Jolly (@TomJolly) June 2, 2020
One of the above-the-fold stories in Tuesday’s paper focused on the president’s decision to walk to St. John’s Episcopal Church following his address to the nation on Monday, during which he threatened to send military troops to combat riots. The headline on the story, which originally read, “President Issues Threat To Send Military In,” was also changed. It was updated to: “President Deploys the Police for a Photo Op.”
The church was one of several churches and historical monuments damaged by rioters on Sunday night. Just before the president’s Monday speech, a large crowd of protesters was cleared by authorities using tear gas and rubber bullets. Law enforcement forced everyone out of the area near the White House to allow the president a path to walk to the church.
The other prominently placed story focused on the protests that have taken place in 140 cities, which have led to five deaths and thousands of arrests. The protests, which have gone on for a week, began after the death of George Floyd.
Floyd, a black man, was killed in police custody on Monday. He had been accused of using a forged $20 bill, but the arresting officer, who is white, used his knee to apply pressure to Floyd’s neck to keep him pinned down. He held the unarmed man in that position for about nine minutes until he was unresponsive and was pronounced dead shortly after.
Officer Derek Chauvin was taken into custody on Friday and charged with third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter, while the other officers have been fired but have not been charged yet.
