President Donald Trump on Saturday afternoon called out David Weigel of the Washington Post for posting a “phony photo of an empty arena” in Pensacola, Fla., Friday night.
.@DaveWeigel @WashingtonPost put out a phony photo of an empty arena hours before I arrived @ the venue, w/ thousands of people outside, on their way in. Real photos now shown as I spoke. Packed house, many people unable to get in. Demand apology & retraction from FAKE NEWS WaPo! pic.twitter.com/XAblFGh1ob
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 9, 2017
As Twitchy reported earlier, CNN’s Brian Stelter made a special note that the network did not apologize for botching its “bombshell” story about an email from Wikileaks to Donald Trump, Jr. Weigel, however, apologized promptly and called his original post a “bad tweet.”
Sure thing: I apologize. I deleted the photo after @dmartosko told me I'd gotten it wrong. Was confused by the image of you walking in the bottom right corner. https://t.co/fQY7GMNSaD
— Dave Weigel (@daveweigel) December 9, 2017
How many seconds did you spend on verifying your story before you post it?
— Alex Wu (@sffrog25) December 9, 2017
It was a bad tweet on my personal account, not a story for Washington Post. I deleted it after like 20 minutes. Very fair to call me out.
Everything I say on Twitter is a joke, except what I say about @swin24. https://t.co/tI7SQnpoN9
— Dave Weigel (@daveweigel) December 9, 2017
Weigel said he deleted the photo after The Daily Mail’s David Martosko told him he’d gotten it wrong. Here are Martosko’s tweets from the event giving a better idea of the crowd size.
A video view from inside the Pensacola Trump rally tonight, as the president talked about illegal immigration pic.twitter.com/VoPbEBqijE
— David Martosko (@dmartosko) December 9, 2017
I'm estimating 13,500 attendance tonight at Trump's Pensacola rally. Official venue capacity is 12,000 (which was about 90% full) but that also doesn't include the floor at all.
— David Martosko (@dmartosko) December 9, 2017
Trump had a good-sized crowd tonight. That said, his claim that he drew 49,000 in Mobile, Alabama and 32,000 on Election Night in Grand Rapids, Michigan were complete rubbish. (Real numbers, about 31,000 and 6,000, respectively. I was at both.)
— David Martosko (@dmartosko) December 9, 2017
Good on Weigel for deleting his tweet and apologizing, or just more #FakeNews from someone who should know better?
FAKE NEWS https://t.co/OKBUyZDJyw
— El Tirano de Badab (@BoydVendrell) December 9, 2017
banner week for #FakeNews https://t.co/yKv23f75xu
— Jonathan R. Brodo (@jonbrodo17) December 9, 2017
Too good to check. #JournalismIsDead https://t.co/pK7K5w2xw0
— Derek Hunter (@derekahunter) December 9, 2017
Yes, there is a problem with journalists constantly trying to dunk on Trump for retweets. https://t.co/Pupposjgvt
— Legal Investor (@Legal_Investor) December 9, 2017
Here's the MSM's problem: They are so eager to "get" Trump that they actually disseminate fake news and play directly into his hands. This is clearly an example, as were ABC and CNN this week. https://t.co/pUvGbzVqcL
— Vince Skolny (@VinceSkolny) December 9, 2017
Why the hell did you even Tweet it anyways? Clearly the rally hadn’t started. Now you just give the guy more power. https://t.co/zFRwVQ7zQ3
— Constantine Giavos (@giavos) December 9, 2017
Didn't vote for Trump and not a fan, but this is B.S.
You've never heard of a walk-though? A rehearsal? A mic check?
A critical thinker would check the timestamp.
Do your job. https://t.co/BKzH28PoEr
— Chris O'Leary (@thepainguy) December 9, 2017
As a journalist ‘covering politics for @washingtonpost,’ you didn’t think, “Perhaps I should verify this before posting to twitter”? Weird https://t.co/VVMWcx5yrw
— Chet Cannon (@Chet_Cannon) December 9, 2017
Look at this pathetic excuse from a sorry so called journalist. https://t.co/6jYjxCxplD
— Pat (@TPOTEfan) December 9, 2017
Get it right the first time. We are in perilous times and count on the media to tell the truth & not reinforce a narrative Trump screams daily. https://t.co/DpGdvp34vH
— Design Dreamer (@DesignDreamer1) December 9, 2017
Trend indicates these "mistakes" are entirely intentional, either by the source or the journalist. They ONLY correct when publicly called out. You are the definition of #fakenews https://t.co/M5BGmp6P53
— Joe Koerner (@hfce354) December 9, 2017
You hacks are all the same – This is why you're fake news… You do this on spite, plant the seeds, get ppl talking about the lie, then you can always pull it later with the damage done – It never turns out well for you hacks, does it? – All Fake, ALL the time… https://t.co/AncQe4nC3C
— Deplorable Deangelo (@LiberalRipper) December 9, 2017
again… FAKE NEWS making apologies and retractions for spreading BS https://t.co/bS9Pcp1Vwv
— Jack Riemer (@Jak_Riemer) December 9, 2017
It continues….this isn't a good week/weekend for the media. https://t.co/R0l5hbtFQk
— Jordan (@Descender421) December 9, 2017
Why even risk things like this in 2017? Why many people believe news is fake nowadays (even though majority is not). https://t.co/a2KxyovFTu
— Nick Mordowanec (@NickMordo) December 9, 2017
This is why objective reporters should not tweet, but at least @daveweigel apologized. https://t.co/rN9kXz4SWa
— Donna Cahill (@DTCahill) December 9, 2017
Ugh. I hate it when Trump is right, but good on @daveweigel for apologizing. https://t.co/VjhRsdQJRB
— Ben Palmer (@benjpalmer) December 9, 2017
You’re literally giving him bait, dude, but the apology shows a lot of integrity. https://t.co/LByR5UFezx
— Kaitlin (@thefactualprep) December 9, 2017
Kudos for admitting when you make an error. A tad more research next time? WaPo and others are becoming less credible every day. https://t.co/dWDBqvVdAu
— twentyman (@tirbagofah) December 9, 2017
A respectful response in the midst of disagreement and political rancor is deserving of respect. https://t.co/LVv0wQu1kT
— LiberallyConservative (@LibConTX) December 9, 2017
With this apology and correction Dave just gained more credibility than CNN. https://t.co/t5Q6MzJvJl
— Michael (@brutalion68) December 9, 2017
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