Let’s hope Independence Day brings something better than this, the worst fireworks show ever. President Trump unleashed a minor tweet-storm Saturday afternoon, following up on his very personal and much-publicized shots at the hosts of “Morning Joe.”
Saturday’s batch wasn’t personal, but it still targeted CNN and the news media, and like dogs going nuts at the flashes of light in the sky and the loud noises, journalists responded. This isn’t going to end soon, is it?
https://twitter.com/seanagnew/status/881283158620200961
Nope. CBS News’ Mark Knoller, the one person in D.C. with a legitimate claim to possibly knowing everything, traced the epicenter to CNN’s 6 p.m. report.
Looks like Pres Trump was watching @CNN at 6PM which was leading with GOP criticism of his Twitter blasts at @Morning_Joe hosts again today. https://t.co/NUkXqkAVBe
— Mark Knoller (@markknoller) July 1, 2017
The Union of Concerned Tweeterists sets the Butthurt Doomsday Clock to 11:56https://t.co/voVVeMFmgV
— David Burge (@iowahawkblog) July 1, 2017
The FAKE & FRAUDULENT NEWS MEDIA is working hard to convince Republicans and others I should not use social media – but remember, I won….
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 1, 2017
….the 2016 election with interviews, speeches and social media. I had to beat #FakeNews, and did. We will continue to WIN!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 1, 2017
My use of social media is not Presidential – it’s MODERN DAY PRESIDENTIAL. Make America Great Again!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 1, 2017
That last tweet racked up nearly 50,000 likes in the first 90 minutes or so, and like it or not, he has a point about doing an end run around the media to victory. But that “modern day presidential” bit is bound to launch countless memes.
Recommended
In any case, Trump isn’t going to stop tweeting, and the press is going to continue to take the bait. CNN’s Jim Acosta ducked into a restroom for a quick change into his super hero costume and came out running toward the tweets like a firefighter to a fire in defense of democracy.
Hope you are enjoying #4thofjulyweekend and celebrating our cherished #1A freedoms enshrined in our Constitution which cannot be taken away
— Jim Acosta (@Acosta) July 1, 2017
Absolutely. We will cherish and defend our First Amendment freedoms just like we continue to cherish and defend our Second Amendment freedoms.
It's also modern day presidential to have regular, full news conferences and cameras ON in the WH briefing room. Happy #4thofjulyweekend
— Jim Acosta (@Acosta) July 1, 2017
Guess it's time to re-up this one. I keep it handy for these kinds of occasions. https://t.co/gwezLMyem8
— Jim Acosta (@Acosta) July 1, 2017
Yeah, we know … it’s been pinned to your profile forever. It even outlasted some CNN employees who succumbed to the lure of fake news; that was a cheap shot, but this whole feud is just sad to watch.
We are real news Mr. President. #realnews
— Jim Acosta (@Acosta) February 18, 2017
You are a hero. You will be remembered by history as one.
— Chris (@Awesomenessly00) July 1, 2017
Until then, though …
Waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
— Kevin Cox (@brooklyncowboy1) July 1, 2017
https://twitter.com/GOPcomedy/status/881306936926392321
https://twitter.com/VetNationalist/status/881302672393031681
Fact: 1A does not mention cameras.
— Glutton4Pnshmnt (@Glutton4Pnshmnt) July 1, 2017
https://twitter.com/New1000AD/status/881285228467302402
There you go with the camera on thing again. So you can perform like the circus act that you are. Do you ever stop whining?
— Pinche Meelo (@PincheMeelo) July 1, 2017
https://twitter.com/ssssylynn88/status/881285877540024320
But seriously, though, First Amendment are always at risk of being chipped away slowly.
https://twitter.com/man_of_renown/status/881288071626489856
Let’s hope so; two of the biggest newspapers in the country seemed to get cold feet after the recent SCOTUS decision allowing “offensive” names to be trademarked.
How is the rest of the press responding to Trump’s claim that his tweets are “modern day presidential”?
Defining "presidential" downward https://t.co/WHfSFxi9ei
— Chris Cillizza (@CillizzaCNN) July 1, 2017
Perhaps his single most disturbing tweet https://t.co/5z1lKHVDtD
— James Pethokoukis (@JimPethokoukis) July 1, 2017
"It's modern day presidential!" about to become the tag line for every frat brother under discipline for throwing up on the carpet https://t.co/2EOQ8kyAzc
— David Frum (@davidfrum) July 2, 2017
This is the definition of a total lack of self-awareness, discipline, and impulse control. Wow. https://t.co/p6ziS3OrIK
— Matthew Dowd (@matthewjdowd) July 1, 2017
Adult coloring books are all the rage too. Want us to send you one so you'll stop tweeting nonsense? https://t.co/G35ASap1eD
— Joy Reid (@JoyAnnReid) July 1, 2017
https://twitter.com/RosieGray/status/881286123112321025
You know when people used to go over Niagara Falls in barrels for the hell of it? I feel like we've all entered into some pact to do that https://t.co/SyirRLt31H
— Katherine Miller (@katherinemiller) July 1, 2017
Odd that he should find it so difficult to find a new press secretary https://t.co/4DODgCIo9f
— Glenn Thrush (@GlennThrush) July 1, 2017
The REAL & RELIABLE news media would be devastated if he stopped using social media — https://t.co/cpgBPduDSP
— Karen Tumulty (@ktumulty) July 1, 2017
It may be time for us all to get off Twitter for a while https://t.co/h3V7fEbqbj
— Taegan Goddard (@politicalwire) July 1, 2017
The moment he can go a week without junk-punching himself or embarrassing the country, the party or conservatism I'll bust out the pom-poms. https://t.co/xWEd8akuKf
— Jonah Goldberg (@JonahDispatch) July 2, 2017
“Presidential” is anything the president says it is. https://t.co/ef94XvIUip
— Philip Bump (@pbump) July 1, 2017
Just a reminder that Trump’s team tried to focus on policy issues all month and 92% of Trump tweets were off-topic. https://t.co/ef94XvIUip
— Philip Bump (@pbump) July 1, 2017
And just one more reminder: the reason we know the exact percentage is that someone thought it was newsworthy to bother counting. Maybe try ignoring it for a day or two?
I'll have some comments on this on @CNN TV later this hour… https://t.co/01ugu8Yfzt
— Brian Stelter (@brianstelter) July 1, 2017
* * *
Related:
‘Grow some balls’! CNN drama queen Jim Acosta is flipping out AGAIN https://t.co/yvqhvtzMtQ
— Twitchy Team (@TwitchyTeam) June 28, 2017
Join the conversation as a VIP Member