Nicholas Sandmann, the Covington Catholic High School student who sued major news outlets in the aftermath of their coverage of a controversial interaction he and several of his classmates had with a Native American activist, said Tuesday that the “full war machine of the mainstream media” was unleashed against him and called for a return to “responsible” reporting.
Sandmann sued the Washington Post, CNN, the New York Times, and other major outlets for defamation after their coverage portrayed him and his classmates as racist aggressors who cornered Nathan Phillips, an elderly Native American man, during a confrontation near the Lincoln Memorial on January 18 of last year.
“My life changed forever in that one moment” Sandmann said during his address to the Republican National Convention. “The full war machine of the mainstream media revved up into attack mode” without researching the full video footage of the incident, investigating Phillips’s motives, or ever asking him for his side of the story.
“And do you know why? Because the truth was not important,” he added.
Viral video of the incident showed Sandmann, who was 16 at the time, and Phillips standing face to face as Phillips loudly beat on a drum inches away from the Kentucky high schooler’s face while Sandmann smirked.
NBC asserted that Sandmann “blocked” Phillips and “did not allow him to retreat” during their interaction. But longer versions of the video, released after the media outlets had already reported that Sandmann initiated the confrontation, showed that Phillips approached Sandmann, who stood mostly still during the incident. Before the encounter between Sandmann and Phillips, members of the Black Hebrew Israelites, a militant black nationalist group, began a confrontation with the teenagers, taunting and shouting slurs at them.
Sandmann and his classmates, who were attending the annual anti-abortion March for Life, wore “Make America Great Again” caps, another fact initial media reports emphasized.
Phillips and other “professional protesters” were looking to turn him into the “latest poster child showing why Trump is bad,” Sandmann said Tuesday.
“Looking back now, how could I have possibly imagined that the simple act of putting on that red hat would unleash hate from the left and make myself the target of network and cable news networks nationwide,” Sandmann said.
Sandmann recently reached legal settlements with CNN and the Washington Post for an undisclosed sum.
Yes,yes,yes…..the lying ,corrupt media mouthpiece of useless democrat party is EXPOSED again!
Shamefully this country’s so call press is just propaganda for haters of America.
Think their slogan should be hidin( the truth) with bidin( the liar)
Nick did a FANTASTIC job latst night. If the idiots in the media could feel shame (which they obviously cannot), they should be ashamed for slandering Nick and his friends who were the ones being harassed–not the harassers!
I thought Nick was wonderful!… I wish we had millions more like him..
And a CNN disgrace denounced Sandmann again after his speech! They (CNN and the leftist media) have no shame, just an anti-American agenda.
I hope that kid is now a millionaire.
God bless Nick Sandmann forever & always. A brave, decent, well-bred young man who stood up to a …
His speech last night was excellent, on target. Hope he runs for office one day.
And we do have millions more just like him and they are not most 16 years old because most have been brain washed into believing Communism. They are EVERYONE over the age of 30 and especially us Seniors! Get out and vote and fight back, We the People can STOP this from happening! Educate and Re-educate your grandchildren and any young people. They have been indoctrinated by their teachers and We can stop it!
Unfortunately, we have come to expect not only bad reporting by the lame-stream Marxist media, but their lies typify the horrible job that they do everyday. They got what they deserved, and they will keep being discredited by the American people until they go out of business.
Hes still suing others 2 more $$$ for Sandmann awesome
He should give the proceeds he received to President Trump’s re-election campaign fund and give them a public Touché. That would grind their grits.
I thought Nick was great also. The moment for me last night was the Lady from Planned Parenthood. It was heart wrenching listening to her tell about the doctor who was suctioning the almost full term baby and the baby was trying desperately to get away from the suctioning. Then the doctor said “beam me up Scottie” as he murdered an innocent baby. These people are truly EVIL, they must be defeated.
smirked should have been in quotes, because that is the left’s version of what happened – it was actually and obviously a very uncomfortable smile. I hope he got millions for what he has been through. I hope all of the media outlets that twist the truth feel the monetary pain of their wickedness.
Saw Nick’s speech last night. It was wonderful and I would love to shake his hand. He is a very admirable young man.
This excellent article just underlines reasons why I refuse to watch the media news broadcast. I just cannot stomach their lies.
What can you expect from the pond scum aka the lame brain media. These “journalists” are illiterate, immoral, and uneducated in the virtues of freedom, justice, reason, individualism, and capitalism. They are so low that when they die, you would have to dig up to bury them
I am so impressed by this young man!!! He did a fantastic job and I am so happy he won his lawsuit. I even heard a rumor that someone at CNN made a hasty comment about him, but that just continues to show the ignorance of the media!! His parents should be so proud of their son!!
I watched the broadcast and I have a lot of respect for this boy. There was no hate in his voice considering what he and his family went through.
I would like to know why the settlements were ‘undisclosed’. They should have been somewhat public to show the public how rotten the media treated this kid.
We need more responsible young people as Nick Sandman to stand up to the false narrative of the MSM. If more people did so, MSM just might be forced to become objective and report the truth and facts. Let people make up their own minds from such reporting.
This is a perfect example of why TRUMP has called them the worthless media for a reason and now this kid SANDMAN is showing you exactly why the loonie liberals are a sad pile of garbage// Why do people even read the biased news from any liberal source when its not the truth ,but one lie on top of another// Wish him well and I hope he sues every TV outlet and every newspaper for reporting fake news// Wear the MEGA hat with pride and sue these worthless sites until they stop because they will end up the losers//
America needs more teenagers like Nick.
The sad thing is, those that read and listen to the FAKE NEWS outlets, just gobble it up like candy, because it furthers their narrative. They’re not looking for truth or they would have to shut down. Thank God in heaven we have a President without a side agenda. He tells it like he sees it and you never have to guess what he’s thinking or doing. I hope the kid gets millions!!!
TRUMP 2020
Good for the teen, and a good lesson for others to stand your ground. Don’t be intimidated by the leftist.
I was so impressed by Nicholas Sandmann’s message and by his composure when addressing America at the RNC. I hope Mr. Sandmann’s settlement (not necessarily the amount) will be posted on social media if the liberal media aren’t going to report it.
All of the speakers have conveyed such positive impressions of living in this country over the past four years with Donald Trump as president. The Maine lobsterman, the democrat mayor whose steel industry rusted under Obama/Biden and saw a comeback with Trump, Pam Bondi, the former Planned Parenthood manager, the teachers, the recent immigrants (now citizens and CEO’s), the black democrat state senator and other democrats who will be voting for Trump, and even Rand Paul…magnificent!!
I, for one, am so proud of the Republicans for their class, and for the messages, personal experiences, and positive aspirations realized in a Trump administration. Maybe this was a good platform after all. No posters, no attendees paid by dems to fill their seats…loved it.
He did patriots proud.
The media outlets mentioned as well as some others are completely out of control. They are losing credibility. Can’t trust a word they say or print. Sad.
I agree with Regina Banks that your word, “smirked” should have been in quotes. That was the media’s characterization of him! It was a very uncomfortable half-smile. He was just a kid, yet he handled the whole incident with amazing restraint. I’m so glad that he has prevailed in the lawsuits that were filed on his behalf and I was very happy that he was asked to speak at the Republican convention. Great speech, Nick Sandmann!
Nicholas Sandmann is to be commended for being, not that he knows or realizes it, a part of the Militant Church.
Is everyone having trouble clicking on the + after someone’s comment…only way mine will change the number of +’s is to leave a reply and then only for a few, not for every comment.
One big mistake President Trump made was calling these people “Fake News”. They are nothing but far left wing propaganda.
The media has become so obviously anti-Republican, anti-American, anti-truth! I did not watch the Democratic Convention, but have been recording the Republican Convention on all three major networks: CBS, NBC and ABC. Each of these has its own cast of “journalists” that do nothing but comment negatively on everything mentioned in the speeches by the various Republican speakers. They constantly bring up points of interest to them, such as the recent shootings by police, to try to demonstrate that no comments were made regarding the incidents! They derogatorily pick apart every point made by the speakers, with the aim of making them sound like they are lying or “misrepresenting” the truth! Every attempt is made to denigrate any attempt by Republicans to cast a positive light on the future, and make it appear that the Democrats are the ones to accomplish positivity! The media needs to return to broadcasting the news, and keeping their personal opinions to themselves!
When the MSM jumps to conclusions before the full facts are sought, they have done immeasurable harm to our American motto of “Justice for All”. I’m grateful for this brave teen and his ability to articulate the need to hold CNN and other news media outlets who so strongly support the divisive narrative of the Democratic Party, accountable for damages. No, we are not a racist Nation but a nation of many different races who desire to hear the facts of any case before we condemn anyone because the next person being condemned on the world wide platform of news may be us. When you think of the wide spread chaos, lawlessness and damage done because the full video of a law breaker was not made known’ you realize that maybe holding news outlets financially accountable for the destruction and harm their rush to judgement has caused, they might hold back their incomplete & biased reporting with their intention of promoting a politically charged narrative to support a leftist’s agenda.
Nickolas Sandmann…..everyone knows the Main Stream Media is controlled and owned by George Soros and his cronies and has not reported anything truthfully in years and years. It is hard to fight the Big Cheese up there.
Hope you stick with it and Win!
We are in the middle of a Communist Revolution lead by the Democrats, the Media, and “The Swamp”!! Take back OUR Country!!! Be a Counter-Revolutionary!!! Remove Every Democrat!!!!!
There is NO Free Press today! Every Major News Outlet is owned by a small group of Billionaires!! All World, and most local, News is controlled by a small Cabal!!! Take-back OUR Country!!! Stand-up for America!!!! Remove Every Democrat!!!!! Demand DOJ file Anti-Trust Lawsuits to brake-up the News Cabal!!!!!
Choose you sources of News. Reject all Mainstream Media, National and Local! We are being brainwashed!! Nick did the right thing – SUE THEM when they lie and defame!!! Stand-up for America!!!! Remove Every Democrat!!!!!
There is NO Free Press today! Every Major News Outlet is owned by a small group of Billionaires!! All World, and most local, News is controlled by a small Cabal!!! Take-back OUR Country!!! Stand-up for America!!!! Remove Every Democrat!!!!! Demand DOJ file Anti-Trust Lawsuits to brake-up the News Cabal!!!!!
We are in the middle of a Communist Revolution lead by the Democrats, the Media, and “The Swamp”!! Take back OUR Country!!! Be a Counter-Revolutionary!!! Remove Every Democrat!!!!!
The way I see this is that Nick was acting like a 16-year old & was taunting the person. This country badly needs Tort Reform when he can file lawsuit over his actions. My opinion: Anyone that goes to a protest has a chance of getting hurt, shot, or other & should not attend as high school kid.
Definition of cold war: a state of political hostility characterized by threats, propaganda, and other measures short of open warfare……….does anyone else notice the similarities with what is happing in our nation today?
Nick was amazing. He had such a good speech that resonated so much about his character! Hard to believe he’s only 18. He was never in the wrong but the corrupt media showed their hate for him and Pres. Trump by not reporting the truth or even admit it was a false report! God bless Nick and his family! Shameful what the media did to him!.?
Another sample of stupid tort claims in Seattle today. The father of 19-year old shot June 20th inside CHOP zone filed wrongful death claims for $1 Billion each to City of Seattle, King County, state of Washington. Person was shot by a 18-year old that had fought with him a year earlier. Really, who is to blame for this?
That last statement (re: reaching settlements with CNN & WAPO), shows admission on their parts of wrong doings. Yet they continue.
WE JUST NEED TO ELIMINATE cnn, msnbc AND ALL OF THE OTHER CANCEROUS, ANTI-AMERICAN, LUNATIC, LYING liberal REPORTING. libs = CANCER AND ARE THE ENEMY OF OUR NATION. libs = isis
It would be sweeter if his lawyers contributed to his cause by not collecting fees. That would send a stronger message to the crooked society of which we reluctantly are a part. All news outlets should be held accountable any time they spread false narratives. Our president ordered two regulations be eliminated before a new one be added. Maybe the news folks should report on all news- good or bad – and not pro or con to personal preferences. They should not twist the facts or be party campaigners. Citizens need unbiased reporting and the majority can make their own responsible decisions.
Nick Sandman’s speech was not only great,Hitting them in the pocket book was great also,
But putting on the MAGA hat
Was the best A Big F U to the media and the dem’s ?
I loved his speech – it’s so hard for me to believe that in this country main stream media has a free pass to outright lie to fit their narrative and typically doesn’t have to make things right – I’m grateful that what was meant for evil was turned to good and I choose to believe he has a bright future – this election is about Washington and the elites (or at least they think they are) against the American people; radicalism against capitalism. Whichever way this turns out I believe in Gods Sovereignty knowing that in the end His plan will ultimately prevail
God bless the strength and courage this young MAN showed, BLM ,here is arole model for you!!!!!