When journalists report the news, that doesn’t mean it’s an attack on President Donald Trump, but that’s what White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders accused The Washington Post of doing on Sunday, only to get totally schooled on Twitter for it.
The Washington Post’s front page on Sunday featured the mass shooting at a Pittsburgh synagogue over the weekend that left eleven people dead. As part of the story, the newspaper also reported on Trump’s critics, who have been slamming him in recent days for sowing hatred and division that has radicalized his supporters and incited them to commit violence.
Of course, Huckabee Sanders threw a hissy fit over it.
Is there any tragedy the Washington Post won’t exploit to attack President @realDonaldTrump? The evil act of anti-Semitism in Pittsburg was committed by a coward who hated President Trump because @POTUS is such an unapologetic defender of the Jewish community and state of Israel. https://t.co/0tCNpepC9k
— Sarah Sanders (@PressSec) October 28, 2018
It should be pointed out that The Washington Post did not attack Trump. The paper merely quoted his critics, who are the ones actually attacking him. So, the good journalists at WaPo were actually just doing their jobs. Huckabee Sanders seems to be crying foul because the paper did not censor Trump’s critics.
Twitter, naturally, had a field day mocking her for not knowing how journalism works.
The day the Press abdicates their Fourth Estate role is the day I look for a new home. If the President and his sycophants can’t handle that free press relationship, they need to find new homes. #OurCountry #OurConstitution
— Jeff Kumpula (@midwestfinn) October 29, 2018
Pretty scary that we have to explain to the President of the US and his supporters how a free press works. This country is in deep trouble
— Steve (@S57Steve) October 29, 2018
Really Sarah, then why did the Pittsburgh Jewish leaders just denounce him in a formal letter?
— Catenigma (@Catenigma) October 29, 2018
Sarah @PressSec this is not RUSSIA.
The media in America is not #RT so @realDonaldTrump can expect the FREE PRESS TO REPORT STORIES HE MAY NOT LIKE …
They may decrease if he lies less.
— #HeSureActsGuilty (@TravelingUS) October 28, 2018
What is it you don’t like about the First Amendment ? The role of the press is not to be a cheerleader for the president. The Post is not a mouthpiece for the government. Please be best.
— Jean Morgan (@1wordjeanmarie) October 28, 2018
He supported anti-semitism in Charlottesville when failed to condemn people shouting slurs. He continues to spout rhetoric that is racist, incites violence and does nothing positive for the country. You are a lying piece of trash and history is going to record that.
— Mitch Kosterman (@MitchKosterman) October 29, 2018
Yeah there’s no underlying anti-semitism in this statement at all pic.twitter.com/6QIxaIrsTy
— Cardi P (@PatrickMcAtee1) October 28, 2018
Is there any tragedy the WH won’t exploit to portray the President as a victim? No mention as to why the murderer attacked the synagogue? He felt that he had to stop the globalists who sponsored the caravan. Where’d he get that idea?
— TrumanCapote’s Ashes (@tcapotesashes) October 29, 2018
The company you keep… pic.twitter.com/MIbvCJtG6F
— laura behr (@lalabehr) October 28, 2018
Even New York Times journalists Maggie Haberman and Peter Baker jumped to defend their rival newspaper.
To be clear, the Washington Post is not attacking the president. The president’s critics are and the Post is writing about the conflict. That’s what newspapers do. We don’t just quote the people in power but the people who disagree with the people in power. @DavidNakamura
— Peter Baker (@peterbakernyt) October 28, 2018
Additional point – the alleged bomber had a truck covered with Trump/MAGA photos. Covering reality-based events isn’t an “attack.” https://t.co/8qJUlwANVx
— Maggie Haberman (@maggieNYT) October 28, 2018
Seriously, Trump and his minions need to stop attacking the media for telling the truth about him and his crooked administration. The press is not supposed to act as the president’s propaganda machine, but that’s exactly what Huckabee Sanders seems to expect. It’s pathetic.
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