RNC chair blames CNN for Trump rally clashes: 'We're not a party that believes in violence'

Republican National Committee Chairman Reince Priebus on Monday charged that CNN was fueling violence at Donald Trump's rallies by spending too much time reporting on violent incidents at his campaign events.

After a weekend of protests and clashes at Trump rallies in Utah and Arizona, Priebus told CNN host Alisyn Camerota that Trump had "called for the temperature to be cooled."

"But look, we're not a party that believes in violence," Priebus opined. "I think violence begets violence. And I think you've got to leave some of the work in the crowd up to the professionals."

The RNC chair added that if he was "being fair" then he also had to criticize the media's coverage.

"When cable shows are on a constant loop on a couple knuckleheads pushing each other, in a 24/7 loop, you know, you create an environment, I think, that just adds fuel to the fire," Priebus charged.

"Shouldn't we focus on that if there's violence at campaign events?" Camerota pressed.

"Mentioning it is fine," Priebus replied. "I'm questioning the 24/7 loop. I'm questioning three hours in primetime at night every day talking about it. I mean, I get it. It's news. I'm not questioning [whether] it's news, I'm not. But it's the obsession that I think that also adds to the problem."

"Granted, both sides have to disavow violence," he added. "But I do think the media is obsessed to the point of it being very noticeable and almost bizarre."

Watch the video below from CNN's New Day, March 21, 2016.