Donald Trump issued a tweet cheering on the defamation lawsuit a Kentucky high school student filed against The Washington Post for the paper’s coverage of his encounter with a Native American activist last month.
Covington Catholic student Nick Sandmann, 16, is suing the Washington Post for defamation. He claims the newspaper falsely accused him of racist acts and instigating a face-off with a Native American activist in the January incident.
Trump gave Sandmann his backing on Wednesday morning after watching a segment on the lawsuit, and other inaccurate media stories, on “Fox & Friends.”
The president quoted Sandmann’s suit and said, “Go get them Nick. Fake News!”
“The Washington Post ignored basic journalistic standards because it wanted to advance its well-known and easily documented biased agenda against President Donald J. Trump.” Covington student suing WAPO. Go get them Nick. Fake News!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) February 20, 2019 [1]
In another tweet, Trump, who routinely harangues the Post and other news outlets he believes are biased, predicted the end of the media as an industry in a half-decade.
Trump often calls news outlets with which he has disputes “fake news” and the “enemy of the people” when he’s particularly outraged.
The Washington Post is a favorite target of Trump’s. The billionaire president has a beef with the paper’s owner, Bezos, who happens to be significantly wealthier than him.
Tweeting on Wednesday morning Trump said, “The Press has never been more dishonest than it is today. Stories are written that have absolutely no basis in fact. The writers don’t even call asking for verification. They are totally out of control. Sadly, I kept many of them in business. In six years, they all go BUST!”
The Press has never been more dishonest than it is today. Stories are written that have absolutely no basis in fact. The writers don’t even call asking for verification. They are totally out of control. Sadly, I kept many of them in business. In six years, they all go BUST!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) February 20, 2019 [2]
Twitter had some thoughts:
As one of six survivors of our nation's only newsroom mass shooting, seeing generalized media-bashing tweets from the president makes me fear for my life. His words have power, and give bad actors justification to act. https://t.co/9NZ2WByB7i [3]
— Rachael Pacella (@rachaelpacella) February 20, 2019 [4]
Just "six years"?! C'mon, you will be in prison for 10 to 15 years and the media will make a great deal of $ covering your criminal trial, your appeals and your time in prison. Just wait until visiting day in jail when Sean Hannity shows up to interview you. https://t.co/7cUdED4j7S [5]
— (((DeanObeidallah))) (@DeanObeidallah) February 20, 2019 [6]
I fucking hate @realDonaldTrump [7]. So absolutely stupid and juvenile, yet so dangerous to freedom and democracy. https://t.co/7Os9kqWyEZ [8]
— Pro Wrestling Walrus (@RasslinWalrus) February 20, 2019 [9]
The President has never been more dishonest than he is today. Tweets are written that have absolutely no basis in fact. He doesn't even ask for verification. He just makes stuff up. He is totally out of control. Sadly, his base has kept him in business.
Fixed it for you. https://t.co/AQkLpcn1iM [10]
— AmyDiane (@FamousA398) February 20, 2019 [11]
We're basically under full anesthesia by now, but in a past world can you imagine if President Obama cheerleaded an extremely dubious lawsuit against Fox News? https://t.co/2Up1sDS4jr [12]
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) February 20, 2019 [13]
Here he goes again, obstructing things at every turn and interjecting where he has no right or authority. https://t.co/3zd0zHC0ig [14]
— Amee Vanderpool (@girlsreallyrule) February 20, 2019 [15]