Fiery salvos between the White House and CNN erupted on Twitter with the scrutinized news network launching a broadside against Trump and the president delivering a devasting counterattack.
Per Fox News:
The statement from CNN came after the president mocked Watergate legend Carl Bernstein, who co-wrote the disputed report that Trump’s former lawyer was prepared to give damning information about the president to Special Counsel Robert Mueller.
CNN continues to stand by the story despite growing skepticism.
“Make no mistake, Mr. President, CNN does not lie. We report the news. And we report when people in power tell lies. CNN stands by our reporting and our reporters. There may be many fools in this story but @carlbernstein is not one of them,” CNN’s public relations department sent.
Make no mistake, Mr. President, CNN does not lie. We report the news. And we report when people in power tell lies. CNN stands by our reporting and our reporters. There may be many fools in this story but @carlbernstein is not one of them.
— CNN Communications (@CNNPR) August 29, 2018
Leaving no attack unanswered, Trump hit back even harder early Thursday morning, mocking CNN boss “Little Jeff” Zucker and claiming the network’s “extreme bias” has “clouded their thinking,” rendering them “unable to function.” He went on to slam NBC News and the media as a whole, including “fake books” – which could be in anticipation of Bernstein’s Watergate reporting partner Bob Woodward’s forthcoming Trump book.
The hatred and extreme bias of me by @CNN has clouded their thinking and made them unable to function. But actually, as I have always said, this has been going on for a long time. Little Jeff Z has done a terrible job, his ratings suck, & AT&T should fire him to save credibility!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 30, 2018
What’s going on at @CNN is happening, to different degrees, at other networks – with @NBCNews being the worst. The good news is that Andy Lack(y) is about to be fired(?) for incompetence, and much worse. When Lester Holt got caught fudging my tape on Russia, they were hurt badly!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 30, 2018
I just cannot state strongly enough how totally dishonest much of the Media is. Truth doesn’t matter to them, they only have their hatred & agenda. This includes fake books, which come out about me all the time, always anonymous sources, and are pure fiction. Enemy of the People!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 30, 2018
Despite resolutely standing by its reporters, CNN published an updated article acknowledging Lanny Davis, their coveted source in the Trump Tower story, had changed his story about whether or not Trump knew of the meeting and left several important questions unanswered.
The New York Times even acknowledged the story raised doubts.