'What the hell is wrong with you?': Twitter horrified over Trump's violent CNN body-slam tweet
"How the f**k are you a president?" Fifth Harmony's Lauren Jauregui tweeted.
Just a day after defending his use of social media as "modern day presidential", Donald Trump took to Twitter on Sunday (2 June) to post an edited video clip that showed him violently beating up a man with a CNN logo superimposed on his face. The 28-second modified video comes from a WrestleMania 23 match back in 2007 dubbed "The Battle of the Billionaires" and shows him "pummeling" WWE chairman Vince McMahon in a scripted appearance.
The tweet included the hashtags #FraudNewsCNN and #FNN.
The president's latest post comes as part of Trump's long-running feud with CNN and the mainstream media, whose content he has often referred to as "fake news".
"It is a sad day when the President of the United States encourages violence against reporters," CNN said in a statement. "Instead of preparing for his overseas trip, his first meeting with Vladimir Putin, dealing with North Korea and working on his health care bill, he is involved in juvenile behavior far below the dignity of his office. We will keep doing our jobs. He should start doing his."
CNN also referred to White House spokesperson Sarah Huckabee Sander's remarks defending the president's use of Twitter last week in which she denied that Trump has ever promoted violence.
"The president in no way form or fashion has ever promoted or encouraged violence," Huckabee Sanders said during a press conference last week. "If anything, quite the contrary."
Last week, Trump crudely lashed out against MSNBC co-hosts Mika Brzezinski and Joe Scarborough in a series of tweets claiming that he once refused to meet with "crazy" Brzezinski because she was "bleeding badly from a face-lift".
Trump's controversial use of the social media platform to attack critics, individuals and businesses has long triggered calls for his @realDonaldTrump Twitter handle to be banned.
Twitter users expressed their shock, horror and anger over Trump's latest post, with many calling for him to be removed under the 25th Amendment. Social media users decried the video as a disturbing and frightening "degradation of the dignity of the presidency".
"The same man who made this tweet also controls our country's nuclear codes," one Twitter user wrote. Another tweeted: "Donald, you're too damn old to be acting like a child. America should be embarrassed."
Many journalists also stood in solidarity with CNN following the tweeted video, which many said "glorified" violence against the media.
Matt Small, a radio producer for the Associated Press, tweeted: "Promoting violence against journalists won't solve any of your problems, Mr. President."
"How the f**k are you a president," Fifth Harmony's Lauren Jauregui tweeted.
#FraudNewsCNN #FNN pic.twitter.com/WYUnHjjUjg
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 2, 2017
Apparently this is also the definition of "presidential"
— Chuck Raasch (@craasch) July 2, 2017
You're supposed to be the President, you jackass. Grow a soul.
— John Pavlovitz (@johnpavlovitz) July 2, 2017
Is this real life
— Dolan Dark (@DolanDark) July 2, 2017
How are we at the stage in human evolution where the president tweets violent, rightwing memes? Nothing you do shocks me any more.
— Mike P Williams ð¹ (@Mike_P_Williams) July 2, 2017
Hey @realDonaldTrump just wondering what the hell is wrong with you??? Could you, idk, grow up & act like a president??? https://t.co/TDdKn9B3R5
— Emily ðµ (@emilyeaguiar) July 2, 2017
After #Gianforte incident u tweet this?!? When journalists get assaulted it's on you 'sir'.. and on u #GOP..he's your boy, u have no souls
— Patrick Gallagher (@PatrickGman) July 2, 2017
What???? Please, someone. Get out the straight jacket. https://t.co/B8fUowmJx7
— Kevin Zegers (@KevinZegers) July 2, 2017
You are unbecoming of a president and an American sir.
— Ryan A Bell VR & AR (@ryan_a_bell) July 3, 2017
Are Americans really proud their president watches five hours of cable news a day, tweets and plays golf every weekend? Wow.
— Christian Kaw (@thechristiankaw) July 3, 2017
On this day in 2017, President Donald Trump posts a meme about wrestling and CNN on Twitter.
— Mike Flacy (@mikeflacy) July 2, 2017
July 2, 1776: Continental Congress votes for independence
— Chelsea Clinton (@ChelseaClinton) July 2, 2017
July 2, 2017: Trump auditions for @WWE https://t.co/in4xXfCQeG
The modern mode of communication is not the issue. It's the crude, false, and unpresidential content. https://t.co/liEYbhkpnx
— Chris Van Hollen (@ChrisVanHollen) July 2, 2017
'To persevere in one's duty, and be silent, is the best answer to calumny.'
— J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) July 2, 2017
George Washington https://t.co/nvhYdTBF0P
The one tweet Obama sent a year ago vs the one tweet Trump sent today. pic.twitter.com/0N5VyxDyCH
— Dan Diamond (@ddiamond) July 2, 2017
Donald Trump is 71 years old.
— David Yankovich (@DavidYankovich) July 2, 2017
He is the President.
He has the nuclear codes.
He is really proud of this tweet.
25th amendment time now? https://t.co/2gQ2HJeDw3
Any president who pubically supports violence on any person is a total disgrace
— ViolenceHurts (@violencehurts) July 3, 2017
What a great Independence Day msg from the US president: violence against the free & open press. #trump @CNN #CNN
— Andy Ostroy (@AndyOstroy) July 2, 2017
He's a sociopath. Honestly doesn't know right from wrong, ethical from unethical
— Jill Colvin Jones (@jillcolvinjones) July 2, 2017
*Trump tweets an inflammatory wrestling gif*
— maple cocaine (@historyinflicks) July 3, 2017
How will i explain Trump's actions to my child without my child thinking it's fucking awesome?
It is very presidential, if you're the president of your preschool class. Otherwise, merely volatile outbursts by an unhinged simpleton
— Bishop Talbert Swan (@TalbertSwan) July 2, 2017
Nah. He's incapable of doing his job. #25thAmendmentNow
— Lesley Abravanel (@lesleyabravanel) July 2, 2017
Trump: "I hate this job. I want out. Here's a video of me punching CNN in the face. Please impeach me."
— Palmer Report (@PalmerReport) July 3, 2017
Republicans: "Dude, cool video!"
This tweet by @realdonaldtrump today makes clear Congress's urgent need to invoke #25thAmendment & remove this sociopath immediately. #trump pic.twitter.com/3yRnDjAOKw
— Andy Ostroy (@AndyOstroy) July 2, 2017
Trump's RNC staffers right now after the wrestling tweet pic.twitter.com/xWnzwxfauq
— Jack Posobiec ðºð¸ (@JackPosobiec) July 2, 2017
Some say Trump's pro wrestling tweet violated Twitter's terms of service. Much of what he's doing violates the country's terms of service.
— Mike Levin (@MikeLevinCA) July 2, 2017
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