Journalists, leftists and a former congressman immediately jumped to blame President Donald Trump after Thursday’s shooting at a Maryland newsroom.

Five people were reported dead on Thursday after a gunman opened fire at the Capital Gazette in Annapolis, Maryland.

Before any information about the shooter or his motivations were revealed, verified users on Twitter blamed President Trump’s rhetoric about the press for the shooting.

I know we’re not supposed to jump to conclusions about motive but it sure would be nice if “incited by the president and right-wing pundits’ constant demonization of the press” wasn’t a plausible explanation — David Klion (@DavidKlion) June 28, 2018

Here is the state of American hell in 2018: We’re hoping this is a spree killing by a disgruntled man with easy access to deadly weapons like we see every week and have decided to accept as normal, bc the alternative is that it’s a Trump-endorsed vigilante attack on the press. — David Klion (@DavidKlion) June 28, 2018

I’m getting my oil changed in Maryland watching local coverage of the #Annapolis shooting. I teach journalism students. The anti-press rhetoric of the right & the president can’t be separated from this violence — Jason Johnson (@DrJasonJohnson) June 28, 2018

Several cited his calls of “fake news” and “enemy of the people” as possible triggers for the attack.

The shooting today in the Capital Gazette newsroom in Annapolis, Maryland cannot reasonably be separated from the President’s mission to villainize the press as “the enemy of the American people.” — Lauren Duca (@laurenduca) June 28, 2018

To my right-leaning friends and acquaintances who with increasing frequently feel free to make “fake news” jokes, that will go from mildly insulting to downright offensive in the wake of journalists shot dead at their jobs. We’ll see what the motive of the shooter is, but enough https://t.co/doiaArMwyq — Steve Daniels (@stevedaniels27) June 28, 2018

Question for President @realDonaldTrump – Has today’s shooting of #journalists in #Annapolis caused you to reflect on past statements labeling the media the “enemy of the people” #FakeNews and the “opposition party”?https://t.co/V0OSDzV0Ay — James LaPorta (@JimLaPorta) June 28, 2018

There will be thoughts and prayers. Silence from many politicians. No action. And in comment threads, a lot of our neighbors, co-workers and relatives will say anonymously that reporters deserved it b/c they’re “fake news”, “lamestream media” and so, “enemies of the people.” https://t.co/qjEWZnTK10 — Neela Banerjee (@neelaeast) June 28, 2018

Here’s what I can say: it’s incumbent upon every national, state & local political leader to speak out, todah, about the role of journalism in our democracy, decry today’s attack on the press, & make clear that journalists aren’t the “enemy of the people.” We stand at a precipice — Alex Howard (@digiphile) June 28, 2018

I’m reserving judgment on the #capitalgazette shooting until we know more, but like everyone else, my first thought was: this is what Trump has been building up to since the election and there’s more where it came from. My thoughts are with every reporter and journalist I know. — Rasmus Rasmussen (@theprint) June 28, 2018

I’ve often worried about this at the @denverpost, given the politically motivated death threats my colleagues & I have gotten. I won’t speculate about the reason for this shooting, but I have a sickening feeling it’s the same reason all fact-based media has come under fire lately https://t.co/Yz5wYDJaIo — John Wenzel (@johnwenzel) June 28, 2018

The President of the United States tells tens of millions of people almost daily that a free press is the enemy of the American people. Please be more specific about what he’s praying for. https://t.co/q2nKDC9x9u — Mark Harris (@MarkHarrisNYC) June 28, 2018

We don’t know the motive for the Capital Gazette newspaper mass shooting in Annapolis, but sincerely hope how Trump and the far right incite hatred towards journalists had nothing to do with it. Regardless, this should send a message that rhetoric is dangerous and unacceptable. — Adam Best (@adamcbest) June 28, 2018

Blasphemous, endless, hateful rhetoric straight from the top and now here we are. https://t.co/LiQ9ji7OcH — Tom Martin (@TomKCTV5) June 28, 2018

When you have the President of the United States repeatedly calling journalists the “enemy of the people,” reports of a mass shooting against journalists are shocking but not at all surprising. — Matthew Keys (@MatthewKeysLive) June 28, 2018

Whoever decided to shoot reporters where they were working was clearly influenced by the false narrative from the right that all news @realDonaldTrump doesn’t like is “Fake News” & #Milo’s encouragement to shoot journalists who write about the truth #Annapolis #CapitalGazette — Tara Dublin Hates Nazis (@taradublinrocks) June 28, 2018

Guys! Guys! Remember when Sarah Huckabee Sanders was not attended to in a restaurant? This mass shooting of journalists in Annapolis is distracting what ~really~ matters; us being nice to fascists! — Lev “Lloyd Banksy” Novak (@LevNovak) June 28, 2018

Trump, Feb 2017: Media is “the enemy of the American people” & “a great danger to our country.” Trump fifteen days ago: Media is the nation’s “biggest enemy.” Milo Yiannopoulos two days ago: “I can’t wait for the vigilante squads to start gunning journalists down.” — Jessica Valenti (@JessicaValenti) June 28, 2018

The shooting the Capital Gazette newspaper’s offices in Annapolis is a direct result of Trump’s constant attacks on journalists. These people were murdered for doing their jobs, while ppl who support a president who’s intentionally putting journalists at risk call for “civility.” — Danielle Campoamor (@DCampoamor) June 28, 2018

While we wait for more news from Maryland shooting, perhaps this is the moment when Trump and the GOP, including sitting U.S. Senators, may consider stopping their attacks on the press. Now. Right now. — David Jolly (@DavidJollyFL) June 28, 2018

I stand by the message regardless of motive. And I predict if it is a workplace shooting the GOP will use that as a pass to continue their attacks. Whatever the motives of the shooter, which we don’t know, the fact we now have to consider it is damning enough. — David Jolly (@DavidJollyFL) June 28, 2018

Journalism has never been this needed and it’s never been so threatened. Attacks on journalists from every angle: from Trump rallies to the ICE protest in PDX. And now a shooting ⁦at @capitalgazette⁩ Don’t let up Journalists. Keep doing your jobs https://t.co/xKUcTh4taB — Angelica Thornton (@AngelicaKATU) June 28, 2018

Man who stokes hatred and violence of journalist and refuses to address gun violence offers boilerplate “thoughts and prayers” when journalists are shot in a mass shooting. https://t.co/QNcGX4yDo9 — Ian Hest (@IanHest) June 28, 2018

This is what happens when we normalize assault on the media. What started as “Lynch the Journalists” t-shirts has turned into a fatal newsroom shooting. My heart goes out to all those affected by today’s tragic events. https://t.co/yn2QNvUZVj — Erik Bascome (@ErikBascome) June 28, 2018

We do not know the suspect or motive for the mass shooting in an Annapolis newspaper office. That said, the White House rhetoric labeling the press the “enemy of the people” is extremely dangerous, regardless of whether there turns out to be any tie to this incident. — Adam Klasfeld (@KlasfeldReports) June 28, 2018

An attack on journalists is an attack on all of us. Inciting violence on journalists isn’t a political game, there’s nothing patriotic about something that takes the lives of hardworking Americans. We’re with you @capgaznews. The villainization of journalism has to stop. — Alex Whitcomb (@AlexWhitcomb) June 28, 2018

The president of the United States has been actively promoting hatred of journalists since the first day he took office pic.twitter.com/pQKjFJjf65 — Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) June 28, 2018

Trump calls free press an enemy of the United States. Multiple times. Shooting at one of the oldest press institutions in the United States. Let’s not draw conclusions, but…his rhetoric as POTUS is dangerous. We already knew that before today. — Vincent Frank (@VincentFrankNFL) June 28, 2018

You caused this, Mr. President. — Andrew Feinberg (@AndrewFeinberg) June 28, 2018

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