One of the faster cycles of "OMG, Team Trump did what?!?!?!" to "Nevermind, but just the possibility…" that we have had so far. https://t.co/AIpoHdK1ot
— Darrick Johnson (@darrickjohnson) March 31, 2017
The Washington Post, in an article quoting “career diplomats,” made a curious claim about Secretary of State Rex Tillerson:
Secretary of State Rex Tillerson spends his first weeks isolated from an anxious bureaucracy https://t.co/zrnHfhgDcd
— The Washington Post (@washingtonpost) March 31, 2017
Diplomats instructed to "avoid eye contact" with Tillerson: report https://t.co/InxRWhrnKU pic.twitter.com/Dis2UJHBOC
— The Hill (@thehill) March 31, 2017
Longtime Associated Press diplomatic reporter Matt Lee spotted “fake news” and called it out:
This is not true and people repeating it are making it more difficult to address very real issues. https://t.co/ztEm3mAXd6
— Matt Lee (@APDiploWriter) March 31, 2017
Naturally any reporter who debunks a piece of anti-Trump admin narrative is going to face some serious blowback, and Lee fielded some questions:
Isn't it possible that some people were told this and you're unaware of it?
— Mark Harris (@MarkHarrisNYC) March 31, 2017
I would suggest to you that I was told of this allegation – weeks ago – and checked it out.
— Matt Lee (@APDiploWriter) March 31, 2017
***
How do you know it's not true?
— McBlondeLand (@McBlondeLand) March 31, 2017
Because. Because I have covered State since 1999. Because I know people who didn't start in 2009.
— Matt Lee (@APDiploWriter) March 31, 2017
https://twitter.com/ellewoodsin916/status/847664377389961216
Yes, I do.
— Matt Lee (@APDiploWriter) March 31, 2017
***
https://twitter.com/ilangoldenberg/status/847659934036631555
You don't know that it's true but you retweeted it anyway to make a point that you're not quite sure about? Is that it? https://t.co/ENvMvNUArO
— Matt Lee (@APDiploWriter) March 31, 2017
Will that put an end to the story being spread around? Don’t hold your breath.
I thought it sounded squirrelly. @APDiploWriter one of the best DOS correspondents out there – tough on everybody – so I'll take his word. https://t.co/10QLn7Ece1
— Eliot A Cohen (@EliotACohen) March 31, 2017
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