The White House said on Wednesday that CNN Worldwide President Jeff Zucker was attempting to “attack and divide” with the statement castigating President Trump for his rhetoric toward the media.

“Trump asked Americans 'to come together and send one very clear, strong, unmistakable message that acts or threats of political violence of any kind have no place in the USA' Yet you chose to attack and divide. America should unite against all political violence,” White House press secretary Sarah Sanders tweeted Wednesday evening.

[READ: Pipe bomb scares: Here's what we know]


Sanders' statement came just moments after Trump concluded a campaign rally in Mosinee, Wis., in which he asked the media to "set a civil tone."

Zucker put out his statement Wednesday after a pipe bomb was delivered to CNN offices in New York and the facility had to be evacuated.

"There is a total and complete lack of understanding at the White House about the seriousness of their continued attacks on the media,” Zucker said, adding that both Trump and Sanders need to understand that their words have consequences.


Several Republican pundits and politicians have said that they need to see the same sort of reaction they are witnessing Wednesday from Democrats when Republicans are attacked.

Rep. Steve Scalise, R-La., told Fox News Wednesday that he feels the push-back on violence he is seeing from Democrats needs to be the same when the other side of the aisle is being attacked.

Scalise was shot last year at a GOP congressional baseball practice in a politically motivated attack.

This week, several prominent Democrats, including billionaire donor George Soros, former President Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton, and members of Congress have been targeted with suspicious packages or have found “potentially explosive devices” at their homes or offices.