CNN's Chris Cillizza not OK with Trump saying the media is helping smugglers and traffickers

Well, the turbulent relationship between President Trump and the press isn’t looking to improve any time soon.

Trump blames immigration issues on the media, accuses reporters of helping smugglers and human traffickers https://t.co/M2QUWGcQf0 pic.twitter.com/J2AnoOUu2L

— The Hill (@thehill) June 19, 2018

The Hill reports that Trump made the remarks before a small-business group in Washington:

During a speech to a small-business group in Washington, Trump said the “fake news” reports about children being separated from their families at the border are aiding human traffickers.

“They are helping these smugglers and these traffickers like nobody would believe,” Trump said of the media. “They know exactly what they’re doing.”

The president accused news outlets of covering child separations more than congressional hearings about an inspector general report about the Hillary Clinton email probe “because those hearings are not good for them.”

“The whole thing is a scam,” he told members of the National Federation of Independent Businesses.

Too far? CNN’s Chris Cillizza thinks so, but his tweet didn’t exactly provoke the response he was likely looking for.

Donald Trump just said, flatly, that the media is knowingly aiding and abetting smugglers and traffickers.

How is that ok?

— Chris Cillizza (@CillizzaCNN) June 19, 2018

It isn't, except what your industry did to Mitt Romney and got away with also isn't OK, and because you got away with it nobody cares what Trump says about you.

Sow. Reap. Deal with it, just like we have to deal with your horrible, biased reporting. https://t.co/ktfqkJ0RZb

— Nathan, son of Robert (@NathanWurtzel) June 19, 2018

… and that was about the most sympathetic tweet Cillizza received in response.

You seem to support the act when adults bring children across the border that are not their own, then are released together to await trial and do not return. Perhaps if you weren't conflating illegal immigration with legal asylum requests at border stations you'd have a point.

— John Bristol (@jbristol11) June 19, 2018

It's OK because it's true. We police the border to prevent child trafficking and drug smuggling and you're trying to interrupt that process. I guess you don't care if Mexican children are smuggled in for pedophiles ¯_(ツ)_/¯ https://t.co/aOjtI8WuRP

— ❌#DismantleTheFed?? (@Trump_Landslide) June 19, 2018

Because the policy YOU WANT aides and abets smugglers and child traffickers whether you realize it or not. @TomCottonAR has mentioned this.https://t.co/yfLJVt2jZh https://t.co/7P8Do39ZZF

— Michael (@Michael2014abc) June 19, 2018

Smugglers and traffickers take advantage of emotional responses to immigration issues. It's not that hard to figure out. https://t.co/reyyfYnudB

— Keith Maniac, from Guatemala (@CutItOutPutin) June 19, 2018

#Truth.
Only two options are:
(a) Separate children from suspected traffickers, knowing that in a small number of cases (about 20%) the suspect would prove innocent
(b) Enable & incentivize child trafficking by keeping children together with traffickers in all cases
You picked b. https://t.co/HfgcH9PWVW

— Bansi Sharma (@bansisharma) June 19, 2018

https://twitter.com/moep_eins/status/1009137694314770434

https://twitter.com/NicolasGold1/status/1009179544513843206

Because quarter-wits like you don't bother to do basic bitch research on the smuggling issues at the border? https://t.co/eXqDFdP8KY

— Azathoth (@ArkhamRealty) June 19, 2018

https://twitter.com/GenAugustoP/status/1009129032967958528

LMAO look at this chump getting owned in the replies. I told you guys this issue was a loser for the media and Dems. Keep raising awareness and fight the fake news. Social media is the Fourth Estate now. https://t.co/FYw7cq9QFA

— We Are Negan (@NeganWins) June 19, 2018

Did we mention that Trump’s approval numbers are going up? We’ll just leave this here again in case anyone from CNN is reading:

Donald Trump's weekly job approval just matched the highest level of his presidency. You might want to change your tactics, media. They aren't working. https://t.co/ZscHr7JaUP

— jon gabriel (@exjon) June 18, 2018

Related:

CNN's Chris Cillizza goes all-in on the 'Republicans pounce' angle on Strzok text https://t.co/PRGizU9NDP

— Twitchy Team (@TwitchyTeam) June 14, 2018