Overview

• On The Chuck ToddCast, MacFarlane said he was diagnosed with PTSD within 48 hours of the July 13, 2024 Trump rally shooting in Butler, Pennsylvania.
• MacFarlane emphasized that journalists faced hostile crowds who blamed them for the assassination attempt and threatened violence.
• MacFarlane noted that many on press row believed they would have been killed if Trump had not risen triumphantly after being shot.
• MacFarlane said the reaction of rallygoers, not the gunfire, led to his placement on trauma leave.
• MacFarlane’s account underscores broader concerns about press safety at highly polarized political events.