GOP senator says he was joking about using violence against journalists

Sen. Markwayne Mullin, R-Okla., commented in a video posted to X on April 4 that “less fake stories” would be written if physical altercations between journalists and politicians were more common. Mullin’s video referenced the 1890 shooting of former Congressman William Taulbee by journalist Charles Kincaid.

“There’s a lot we could say about reporters and the stories they write, but I bet they’d write a lot less false stories, or as President Trump says ‘fake news’ if we could handle our differences that way,” Mullin said in the video.

After The Oklahoman reported on Mullin’s comments, the senator said his comments about violence and the press were intended as a joke, adding, “Don’t forget I also JOKED about bringing back caning.”