Donald Trump provokes media ire with ‘Fake News Awards’ roll call
Donald Trump is facing criticism from all sides after revealing a roll call of so-called ‘Fake News Award’ winners via the Republican National Committee’s own website.
Donald Trump provokes journalist’s ire with ‘Fake News Awards’ rollcall
The move has apparently driven a deeper wedge between the president and the mainstream media and has provoked a wave of dissent from within his own party as many Republicans rail against what is being seen as a hypocritical act.
Among the list of media errors and corrections presented by Trump as evidence of a biased media were a swathe of articles concerning alleged collusion between the Trump administration and Russia to meddle in the 2016 election.
Top of the list however is a report by Paul Krugman in the New York Times claiming that markets would ‘never’ recover from Trump while CNN provoked presidential wrath by incorrectly stating that Trump had access to hacked documents via WikiLeaks.
And the FAKE NEWS winners are...https://t.co/59G6x2f7fD
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 18, 2018
News of the stunt first emerged in the new year when Trump announced his idea to an incredulous world, energising his own rank and file support which is at risk of becoming jaded as Trump’s presidency risks becoming routine.
Railing against the president's actions, senator John McCain wrote: “The phrase ‘fake news’ – granted legitimacy by an American president – is being used by autocrats to silence reporters, undermine political opponents, stave off media scrutiny and mislead citizens.
“We cannot afford to abdicate America’s longstanding role as the defender of human rights and democratic principles throughout the world.”
In an effort to row back a little from all out war Trump later sought to praise sections of the media via a follow-up tweet: “Despite some very corrupt and dishonest media coverage, there are many great reporters I respect and lots of GOOD NEWS for the American people to be proud of!”
CNN is no stranger to Trump's ire after famously being used as a punch bag in a violent viral video retweeted by the president.