Trump cancels interview with ‘not nice’ NY Times at last minute, then changes mind (UPDATED)
The ongoing spat between Donald Trump and New York Times continues after the president-elect initially cancelled a scheduled meeting with the newspaper at the last minute before later reversing his decision.
“I cancelled today's meeting with the failing @nytimes when the terms and conditions of the meeting were changed at the last moment. Not nice,” Trump tweeted on Tuesday regarding the publication of which he has been highly critical for its reporting of him.
I cancelled today's meeting with the failing @nytimes when the terms and conditions of the meeting were changed at the last moment. Not nice
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 22, 2016
A few minutes later he tweeted that a new meeting may be possible. “In the meantime they continue to cover me inaccurately and with a nasty tone!” added Trump.
Perhaps a new meeting will be set up with the @nytimes. In the meantime they continue to cover me inaccurately and with a nasty tone!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 22, 2016
Political correspondent for the NYT, Jonathan Mahler, responded to Trump’s tweets claiming it was the president-elect who changed the conditions of the meeting, requesting no on-record segment, which it refused.
“NYT did not try to change ground rules. Trump did, asking for only a private meeting and no on-the-record segment, which NYT refused,” he said.
NYT did not try to change ground rules. Trump did, asking for only a private meeting and no on-the-record segment, which NYT refused. https://t.co/EpmZFdDYAh
— Jonathan Mahler (@jonathanmahler) November 22, 2016
In a statement the publication said it became aware the meeting had been cancelled only when it read Trump’s tweet.
.@realDonaldTrump cancelled his meeting w/@nytimes. Our response: "We did not change the ground rules at all and made no attempt to." pic.twitter.com/uzyto91bC2
— Clifford Levy (@cliffordlevy) November 22, 2016
Later on Tuesday, the NYT announced that the meeting will happen, with both on and off-the-record segments scheduled.
"Mr Trump's staff has told us that the President Elect's meeting with the Times is on again," the newspaper said in a statement.
Update: @nytimes meeting w/@realDonaldTrump is back on. Meeting w/journalists is on the record only. Here’s our statement: pic.twitter.com/xcicNcpkpN
— Clifford Levy (@cliffordlevy) November 22, 2016
Trump also tweeted that the meeting was back on, saying he was "looking forward to it."
The meeting with the @nytimes is back on at 12:30 today. Look forward to it!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 22, 2016
The meeting between the NY Times and Trump is part of a number of meetings the president-elect has scheduled with news organizations before Thanksgiving.
Trump previously criticized the NYT, claiming he was treated unfairly during the election in its coverage which had led to the publication losing subscribers, a claim they deny.
READ MORE: ‘Highly inaccurate’: Trump picks Twitter fight with NY Times