Donald Trump Calls Press 'Enemy Of The American People' And Twitter Responds
By Mark PygasUpdated
As you probably already know, President Donald Trump has a vendetta against any news organization that reports negatively on him, whether or not the information they report is accurate.
In a press conference yesterday, Donald Trump even called Russia 'fake news' following the resignation of national-security adviser Michael Flynn. Flynn had communicated with Russian officials during the transitional period before Trump had been sworn in, and lied to Vice President Mike Pence about the extent of the talks.
Trump then went on to incorrectly claim that he had won the electoral college in the biggest landslide since Ronald Reagan. In reality, George H. W. Bush, Bill Clinton, and Barack Obama all won by far greater margins.
So it shouldn't come as surprise that this evening, Trump tweeted not once, but twice, that the "fake news media" is the "enemy of the American people."
In the first tweet, which Trump deleted minutes after publishing, he specifically called out the New York Times, CNN, and NBC.
@realDonaldTrump @nytimes @NBCNews @ABC @CBS @CNN Like how you added a few more news outlet handles to discredit. You're fucking nuts, pal. pic.twitter.com/Fv2U201YxF
— Mike P Williams (@Mike_P_Williams) February 17, 2017
In a second tweet, Trump made some changes.
Trump added CBS and ABC to the list, removed the incorrect spacing from his original tweet, incorrectly capitalized "People," and removed "SICK" from the end of his tweet.
As you can imagine, Twitter users aren't responding well to the tweet.
@realDonaldTrump @nytimes @NBCNews @ABC @CBS @CNN What the fuck are you doing? Honesty, you're ill and should be in a home.
— Mike P Williams (@Mike_P_Williams) February 17, 2017
@realDonaldTrump @nytimes @NBCNews @ABC @CBS @CNN You cannot brand reputable news outlets as enemies of the people - are you insane, 45?
— Mike P Williams (@Mike_P_Williams) February 17, 2017
@realDonaldTrump @nytimes @NBCNews @ABC @CBS @CNN You're inciting hatred & (possible) violence against people doing their jobs. Unacceptable
— Mike P Williams (@Mike_P_Williams) February 17, 2017
@realDonaldTrump @nytimes @NBCNews @ABC @CBS @CNN Your behaviour gets more erratic each day; I'm convinced you're having a severe breakdown.
— Mike P Williams (@Mike_P_Williams) February 17, 2017
@realDonaldTrump @nytimes @NBCNews @ABC @CBS @CNN Do yourself and the world a favour and resign. You're grossly unfit to govern America.
— Mike P Williams (@Mike_P_Williams) February 17, 2017
Another user asked why Donald Trump seems to be the only politician who wants to declare war on the media.
@realDonaldTrump @nytimes @NBCNews @ABC @CBS @CNN Then why are YOU the only one going to war with the media?
— Kristina Wong ❄️ (@mskristinawong) February 17, 2017
@realDonaldTrump @nytimes @NBCNews @ABC @CBS @CNN I guess your meeting at Boeing is over.
— Kristina Wong ❄️ (@mskristinawong) February 17, 2017
@realDonaldTrump @nytimes @NBCNews @ABC @CBS @CNN I heard that when you are coming down from a bad drug trip you should stay off Twitter.
— Kristina Wong ❄️ (@mskristinawong) February 17, 2017
@realDonaldTrump @nytimes @NBCNews @ABC @CBS @CNN But NBC is what made you a REALITY TV STAR. pic.twitter.com/NlL0e5CaZU
— Kristina Wong ❄️ (@mskristinawong) February 17, 2017
@realDonaldTrump @nytimes @NBCNews @ABC @CBS @CNN Also, this is a pretty obvious way to draw our attention to your aides and RUSSIA.
— Kristina Wong ❄️ (@mskristinawong) February 17, 2017
Others were clear that they expected the media to hold Trump accountable.
.@realDonaldTrump No it's really just your enemy.
— Jordan Uhl (@JordanUhl) February 17, 2017
.@realDonaldTrump We the People depend on the media to hold YOU accountable—which is especially important because you're a pathological liar
— Jordan Uhl (@JordanUhl) February 17, 2017
.@realDonaldTrump For you to try to pit the people against the press is undoubtedly one of the most unamerican things to ever occur
— Jordan Uhl (@JordanUhl) February 17, 2017
While others taunted the President over low approval ratings.
@realDonaldTrump @nytimes @NBCNews @ABC @CBS @CNN explain this pic.twitter.com/KnhtLs5dSF
— Karim (@karimtbe) February 17, 2017
@realDonaldTrump Yesterday you compared the price of drugs to a candy bar.. we all want to know -- who's your dealer? 👀
— Karim (@karimtbe) February 17, 2017
@realDonaldTrump Also, great job yelling at that Jewish reporter when being asked how you will combat anti-Semitism! Solid leadership.
— Karim (@karimtbe) February 17, 2017
Others believe that the specific organizations are being targeted because they're not "being nice" to Trump.
@realDonaldTrump Sorry that the media isn't being "nice" abt fake inauguration numbers, or your stupid wall, or your xenophobic travel ban!
— Jules Suzdaltsev (@jules_su) February 17, 2017
@realDonaldTrump Must be tough getting roughed up in court re: failed travel ban, and having everyone know about it! https://t.co/WEIoImEIL8
— Jules Suzdaltsev (@jules_su) February 17, 2017
This is all on the same day that the Associated Press revealed that the Trump administration considered a proposal to mobilize as many as 100,000 National Guard troops to round up unauthorized immigrants.