Fake news face-off: Trump & CNN in spat over POTUS comments… again
Donald Trump and CNN have gone head to head, again, after Trump described the network as “fake news CNN” referencing a Friday interview with Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders on the television station.
“While on FAKE NEWS @CNN, Bernie Sanders was cut off for using the term fake news to describe the network. They said technical difficulties!,” Trump tweeted on Sunday.
While on FAKE NEWS @CNN, Bernie Sanders was cut off for using the term fake news to describe the network. They said technical difficulties!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) February 12, 2017
Sanders spoke to CNN’s Erin Burnett Friday about alleged links between Michael Flynn, Trump’s National Security Advisor, and Russia, as well as Trump's subsequent reaction, telling reporters he “didn’t know about it.”
When asked what he thought about Trump’s remarks, Sanders joked: “Maybe he’s been watching CNN ‘Fake News,’ what do you think?”
Immediately after making the joke, however, the interview ends as Sanders’ connection with the outlet seemingly breaks down.
@realDonaldTrump@CNN Trump should adjust the language. "Fake news" Is a protection of their "social marketing" profits. Theft of your taxes
— Kevin Mulvina (@THEFXR1) February 12, 2017
@CNN@RichardHaass FAKE NEWS; Trump has done more than Obama's 8 years in office. #Cynicalfakenews
— Marcos1969 (@Deabramarcos14) February 12, 2017
I think @CNN is playing a blinder in its responses to Trump's "fake news" taunt by ending every Trump correction with "Those are the facts"
— lawrence serewicz (@lldzne) February 12, 2017
This is just a lie @realDonaldTrump. Anyone who watched the video can see Bernie Sanders says "it was a joke" after that line. This is crazy
— David G. McAfee (@DavidGMcAfee) February 12, 2017
CNN didn’t let Trump’s tweet go unanswered, however, with the station’s PR department tweeting the president to say he was “false” as the interview did continue after a commercial break.
“Transcript from @ErinBurnett intvu w @SenSanders. He was not cut off. Those are the facts,” a tweet from CNN’s Communications team read, providing a link to the interview’s transcript. Both CNN hosts Jake Tapper and Brian Stelter pulled Trump on his tweet too, with the latter stating that Trump’s comments were “untrue.”
@realDonaldTrump False. Transcript from @ErinBurnett intvu w @SenSanders. He was not cut off. Those are the facts. https://t.co/NzJNgdYSIXpic.twitter.com/AOFKLHUlGk
— CNN Communications (@CNNPR) February 12, 2017
Untrue. Sanders was *criticizing Trump* for calling CNN "fake news." You can see for yourself, all 11 minutes, here: https://t.co/qhtlb5Wo6Qhttps://t.co/AcwOiNHi0j
— Brian Stelter (@brianstelter) February 12, 2017
From Michael Briggs, Senator Sanders’ Communications Director: “The Senator was clearly joking” https://t.co/OzMj8pkTlv
— Jake Tapper (@jaketapper) February 12, 2017
In a press conference in January, Trump branded CNN “disgraceful” before refusing to answer a question from Jim Acosta, one of the network's correspondents. “Be quiet. I’m not going to give you a question. You are fake news,” Trump said.
READ MORE: ‘You are fake news’: War breaks out between supporters of Trump & media on Twitter
Trump’s tweet on Sunday comes only a day after Sanders tweeted to say that in light of Trump’s approach to the presidency thus far, he “clearly does not understand what our Constitution is about.”
READ MORE: Sanders burns Trump over tweets, says president ‘doesn’t understand’ Constitution
