'You're a disgrace': Twitter tears into Trump after his 'outrageous' attack on CNN
Twitter furiously criticised the president's remarks as a "shocking" and "outlandish" attack on the freedom of the press.
President Donald Trump once again took aim at CNN over the weekend saying it represented the US "very poorly" to the world and he was furiously slammed over it. In a tweet on Saturday (25 November), Trump wrote: "@FoxNews is MUCH more important in the United States than CNN, but outside of the US, CNN International is still a major source of (Fake) news, and they represent our Nation to the World very poorly.
"The outside world does not see the truth from them," he continued.
Trump's latest remarks sparked furious criticism online with many slamming his tweet as an attack on the freedom of the press and the first amendment.
Within minutes of his tweet, CNN's public relations team hit back at the president saying: "It's not CNN's job to represent the U.S to the world. That's yours. Our job is to report the news. #FactsFirst"
Trump has often slammed mainstream media outlets, particularly CNN, over its coverage of his administration and referred to them as the "fake news media". In July, Trump garnered fierce criticism for posting an edited video clip that showed him beating up a man with a CNN logo superimposed on his face.
His latest comments also happened to come after the Justice Department filed a lawsuit in an attempt to block a merger between AT&T and Time Warner, CNN's parent company.
Twitter furiously criticised the president's remarks as a "shocking" and "outlandish" attack on the freedom of the press.
"YOU represent the nation to the WORLD very poorly," one Twitter user wrote.
Former FBI director James Comey threw shade at Trump by posting a quote by Thomas Jefferson on the freedom of speech.
Former CIA and National Security Agency director Michael Hayden tweeted: "If this is who we are or who we are becoming, I have wasted 40 years of my life. Until now it was not possible for me to conceive of an American president capable of such an outrageous assault on truth, a free press or the first amendment."
Many journalists also slammed Trump for undermining the work of foreign correspondents in dangerous war zones across the globe.
"At CNN we dodge bullets to bring you the news. Nothing fake about that," CNN's chief international correspondent Christiane Amanpour tweeted. She also posted a photo of her late camerawoman Margaret Moth who died in Bosnia.
David Frum, a former Bush speechwriter and senior editor at The Atlantic, said the president's words invite "rogue regimes & other bad actors all over the world to harass - or worse - CNN journalists with impunity from the government of the United States".
.@FoxNews is MUCH more important in the United States than CNN, but outside of the U.S., CNN International is still a major source of (Fake) news, and they represent our Nation to the WORLD very poorly. The outside world does not see the truth from them!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 25, 2017
Fox news just reported whatever you want them to. CNN reports on the truth. However the truth is dangerous to you and your narrative
— Ed Krassenstein (@EdKrassen) November 25, 2017
At CNN we dodge bullets to bring you the news. Nothing fake about that. #FactsFirst ð pic.twitter.com/ylNne3cwVc
— Christiane Amanpour (@camanpour) November 26, 2017
If President Trump knew the facts, he would never have sent that tweet. Here is my (late) camerawoman Margaret Moth, who took a bullet in the face covering the facts and truth in Bosnia. #FactsFirst ð pic.twitter.com/H4KXpM6iUB
— Christiane Amanpour (@camanpour) November 26, 2017
Did you ask the Justice Department to block the AT&T-Time Warner merger due to your opinion of CNN? We deserve to know.
— Renato Mariotti (@renato_mariotti) November 25, 2017
Freedom of press is one of the most important things we have. Stop interfering, Trump!
— PORP (@TheOfficialPORP) November 25, 2017
Truth? You don't even know what that means!
— Linda Colaguori (@llcola) November 25, 2017
— JohnnyInOakland (@JohnnyInOakland) November 25, 2017
CNN International has long been an important example of the free press to the world. By attacking it, Trump is doing his dictator buddies abroad a favor by undermining those who would hold them accountable. https://t.co/kOmDwXLHqk
— Evan McMullin (@Evan_McMullin) November 25, 2017
Inside the US, CNNâs reporting is protected by the First Amendment and the courts. Outside the US, US-affiliated journalists do ultimately depend on the protection of the US government. Trumpâs words are a direct attack on those international journalists' freedom & even safety
— David Frum (@davidfrum) November 25, 2017
In the last 48 hours, Trump has incited violence & attacked two major news organization, @TIME & @CNN,
— Rula Jebreal (@rulajebreal) November 27, 2017
his authoritarian backer seems to be listening. https://t.co/FkBrH0ueNu
Why is Trump doing this on the same day Putin cracks down of foreign media in Russia â including CNN International? https://t.co/1ZaKE83Srt
— Andrew Beatty (@AndrewBeatty) November 26, 2017
sdsds
Dear @realDonaldTrump: The job of @cnni, or any independent media organization, is not to represent the United States or your Administration. It is to report the facts, even if those facts harm your Administration. That's why the First Amendment protects them from you. https://t.co/2RPhEsb1wT
— Ted Lieu (@tedlieu) November 26, 2017
There are so many issues in this POTUS tweet - false premise, 1st Amendment violations, hazarding the safety of US journalists overseas, promoting Fox - but anyone having lived overseas knows CNN and BBC are the two most accurate and respected news programs in the world. https://t.co/FLVBw3t3Xy
— Mark Hertling (@MarkHertling) November 26, 2017
So what you're saying is, @FoxNews is state TV. It's your PRAVDA or RT. Duly noted. https://t.co/mFOmt0EmGT
— Joy Reid (@JoyAnnReid) November 26, 2017
At CNN international we shed blood to bring you the news. Nothing fake about that. pic.twitter.com/rmOdWjfH0R
— benwedeman (@bencnn) November 26, 2017
Thinking about @cnni and my brave and hard-working colleagues there who cover famines and wars and politics and terrorism and everything else. Amazing men and women, thank you for your continued excellence. https://t.co/9sVaB0z4Li
— Jake Tapper (@jaketapper) November 25, 2017
The UN is investigating a modern day slave trade following a report from our journalists at CNN International. https://t.co/U0lnVskAMC https://t.co/lO2MDEb8zc
— Jim Acosta (@Acosta) November 26, 2017
âHoney, weâre having TRUMProast tonight and itâs BURRRRRNED.â pic.twitter.com/KrJxqAOS90
— Keane Li (@keaneli) November 27, 2017
Trust me you are saying far worse to the world about our country. Youâre a disgrace and harming us in the view of the world.
— Ashley (@eclipseashley02) November 27, 2017
honestly, iâd love to hear a Fox reporter/anchor/whatever tell Trump to stop this shit. Fox has plenty good reporters who donât think of their mission as representing the US abroad https://t.co/6P1060Ug2Z
— Sam Stein (@samstein) November 26, 2017
With respect, sir, you are mistaken. I say this not only as a CNN employee, but as a former spox at Pentagon & State: CNNi is staffed by world-class journalists & crew who risk life & limb telling important stories from important places. Nothing fake about what they do. https://t.co/s4dYu1qh2L
— John Kirby (@johnfkirby63) November 25, 2017
When two former CIA leaders (McLaughlin & Hayden) are concerned about Trumpâs assault on free press, we should all be concernedð https://t.co/zVUt5kRMo8
— Chris Lu (@ChrisLu44) November 26, 2017
Twitter reveals the real President Trump. His tweets reveal his real disdain for the press... https://t.co/3GUFyp8fF5
— Brian Stelter (@brianstelter) November 26, 2017
The United States used to be a powerful voice for press freedom across the globe. Trump has undercut that completely. https://t.co/JT8jo8Jb19
— Brian Klaas (@brianklaas) November 26, 2017
The current Administration is doing a horrendous job of representing America
— â¡ï¸Katniss Resistsâ¡ï¸ (@KatnissResists) November 26, 2017
Actually, CNN represents America well to the world when it demonstrates a willingness to speak in its own voice and at times criticize US government. That is what distinguishes independent media from state media and democracy from authoritarianism.
— Richard N. Haass (@RichardHaass) November 26, 2017
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