'You're the stain': Twitter fires back at Trump for slamming news media as 'a stain on America'
Twitter slammed Trump as "hypocritical" over his latest attacks on the press in light of his history of making questionable statements and claims.
US President Donald Trump lashed out at the media early on Sunday (10 December) after a series of reporting errors, calling them a "stain on America". Twitter, on the other hand, hit back at Trump saying his frequent attacks on the free press are the "real stain" on humanity.
"Very little discussion of all the purposely false and defamatory stories put out this week by the Fake News Media," Trump tweeted. "They are out of control - correct reporting means nothing to them. Major lies written, then forced to be withdrawn after they are exposed...a stain on America!"
Trump has long criticised mainstream news outlets as "fake news media" over their coverage of him and his administration.
Last week, a number of journalists and media outlets including CNN and ABC were slammed by the president and his supporters over reporting errors that made waves on social media, and were widely covered by the media. The slew of errors also fuelled claims by the president and his supporters over "fake news" by news outlets.
ABC News' Brian Ross reported that Trump had directed his former national security adviser, who was recently charged in special counsel Robert Mueller's Russia probe, to make contact with Russian officials during the campaign. However, ABC later retracted the report and clarified that Flynn was directed to contact Russia after Trump was elected.
The error immediately came under fire while Ross, whom Trump called a "fraudster", was suspended over the report.
CNN was also forced to issue a correction regarding an erroneous exclusive that Donald Trump Jr received an advance email from WikiLeaks regarding a trove of stolen documents from the DNC that it planned to release during the campaign. However, the email was actually sent to Trump's son a day after the embarrassing documents were leaked to the general public.
Trump also took aim at Washington Post reporter Dave Weigel and demanded that he apologise for tweeting a "phony photo" of an empty arena in Florida hours before the rally began and the president arrived.
Weigel later apologised for the photo and admitted that he "got it wrong." Trump has since called on the Post to fire Weigel.
.@daveweigel of the Washington Post just admitted that his picture was a FAKE (fraud?) showing an almost empty arena last night for my speech in Pensacola when, in fact, he knew the arena was packed (as shown also on T.V.). FAKE NEWS, he should be fired.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 9, 2017
Twitter, however, slammed the president over his latest attacks on the press as "hypocritical" in light of his history of making questionable statements and claims.
"The liar of all liars complaining about an honest mistake," one person tweeted. Another added: "You're the stain pal, an orange skid mark on history."
"Trump is a clown. He has no respect for the American people or our Constitution," another person wrote. "He mocks our democracy & 241 years of civility in our executive branch. His presidency will go into the history books as the greatest stain on our democratic experiment since slavery. I am ashamed."
"You are really deflecting," one person mused. "Something interesting must be coming."
— MrFuturePresident (@RealFuturePOTUS) December 11, 2017
You are the definition of Hypocrisy!
— Ed Krassenstein (@EdKrassen) December 10, 2017
When honest, well-intentioned journalists make an error, weâve seen immediate retractions and admissions issued before your predictable rants. No such record corrections have happened from your Administration, which lies to the American Public for sport.
— Congressman Tim Ryan (@RepTimRyan) December 10, 2017
Trump lies on almost a daily basis. I would call his claims ironic, but he doesnât understand the meaning of the word.
— Ron Waxman (@RonWaxman) December 10, 2017
Trump's calling the free press a "stain an America" because reporters are sometimes wrong.
— Pé Resists (@4everNeverTrump) December 10, 2017
Donald Trump is a stain on humanity! https://t.co/TOM8S7q8h9
— Perez (@ThePerezHilton) December 11, 2017
Donald, the only truth is Robert Mueller. Distract all you want, play all the golf you want, watch all the tv you want. It doesnât matter. Mueller is working around the clock for justice. He will win and you will lose.
— Albert D (@BigAlDell) December 10, 2017
Right on your tail, ainât they?...
— tara strong (@tarastrong) December 11, 2017
Whatever ð pic.twitter.com/g7nY3tyMtw
— Ilissa Jackson (@ILissaJackson) December 11, 2017
Journalists donât always get it right. And you know what they do when they donât? They own up to it. They apologize. They get suspended, fired. You know what happens when the president gets it wrong? Nothing. https://t.co/jyfyEnjjlM
— Natalie G. Borden (@NatalieGBorden) December 10, 2017
Very little discussion of all the purposely false and defamatory things said by the 'Truth Impaired' Trump admin. They are out of control - refuse to correct anything. Major lies said, daily, then lies to defend lies... all funded by taxpayers....a stain on America. https://t.co/1GzrHL2yjq
— Jesse Ferguson (@JesseFFerguson) December 10, 2017
If you're not alarmed by Donald Trump's attempts to undermine our free press, you're not paying attention. Once he convinces his supporters that they can't believe anyone but him, he'll be able to take away our rights without fearing consequences at the ballot box. https://t.co/mA3ZHRvshf
— Renato Mariotti (@renato_mariotti) December 10, 2017
Hallmark of authoritarianism: attacks on the free press - have your insiders buy up media outlets and shut them down or influence their voice. BOTH are happening under Trump as he tries to destroy our fragile democracy. We must #resist
— Amy Siskind (@Amy_Siskind) December 9, 2017
Trumpâs own speeches are laced with debunked liesâmore than a thousand false claims since he took office. None corrected. No apologies. His career is built on lies & conspiracy theories. And the free press is a core pillar of democratic accountabilityâwhich is why he attacks it.
— Brian Klaas (@brianklaas) December 10, 2017
The Most Important Defense Against Trump Is a Free Press https://t.co/oy3wx1Mtct
— Ralph Nader (@RalphNader) December 2, 2017
One vacation tweet about Weigelgate:
— Daniel Dale (@ddale8) December 10, 2017
Trump has lied 22 times this year about crowds. Iâve had to invent a separate Crowds category on the fact-check page. Heâs never corrected any of them. https://t.co/H8xnWtSr3a pic.twitter.com/uXfDUfo8w8
.@realDonaldTrump-Youâre the biggest pathological liar on planet earth and you have the nerve to criticize journalists because they make mistakes? Cry me a river you unhinged pathetic lunatic.
— Scott Dworkin (@funder) December 10, 2017
