Health and science reporter Rebecca Robbins’ coverage of Newt Gingrich’s speech at the BIO2016 conference in California triggered a small earthquake on Twitter Wednesday.
#RIP my mentions after tweeting about Gingrich's comments on Trump.
— Rebecca Robbins (@RebeccaDRobbins) June 8, 2016
It looks like Trump’s big victory speech Tuesday night — cautiously delivered via teleprompter — didn’t quite put supporter Gingrich at ease.
.@newtgingrich: Trump “made a really stupid mistake last week, and it took him about 3 days to learn.” Calls Trump an “absurd amateur.”
— Rebecca Robbins (@RebeccaDRobbins) June 8, 2016
“Absurd amateur”? Ouch.
More from Gingrich:
.@newtgingrich on Trump/Hillary: “Both of them are gambling, & the question is what do the American people decide is the less risky gamble.”
— Rebecca Robbins (@RebeccaDRobbins) June 8, 2016
.@newtgingrich: "There is no question that a Trump presidency would be vastly more interesting." #BIO2016
— Rebecca Robbins (@RebeccaDRobbins) June 8, 2016
But not everything Gingrich had to say about his chosen candidate was negative. (Think about that for a second.)
.@newtgingrich: Trump draws support with the promise "I'll at least try" to fix problems like crime surges.
— Rebecca Robbins (@RebeccaDRobbins) June 8, 2016
.@newtgingrich marveling at Trump's social/media strategy: "He’s generated $18 or $20M worth of exposure during the day while doing nothing"
— Rebecca Robbins (@RebeccaDRobbins) June 8, 2016
Gingrich responded by claiming he’s being misquoted, and he actually called Trump a “gifted amateur,” or at the very least suggested it.
Totally misleading report about my talk at Bio this morning. In 90 minute dialogue made clear Trump is learning, a gifted amateur, will win
— Newt Gingrich (@newtgingrich) June 8, 2016
So, Newt didn’t slime Trump just a little bit? Robbins responded by posting the transcript — which has Gingrich saying “absurd amateur,” but in the nicest way possible.
My full transcript of the section of Newt remarks in question: https://t.co/0oH5s3hgTd https://t.co/uQsoKZJCPL
— Rebecca Robbins (@RebeccaDRobbins) June 8, 2016
Full transcript of segment of @newtgingrich remarks about Trump at #BIO2016 panel this AM. https://t.co/xteZIL70Nj pic.twitter.com/UIsFek9tSC
— Rebecca Robbins (@RebeccaDRobbins) June 8, 2016
One thing’s certain in politics: regardless of context, a comment like that is going to make the rounds.
.@newtgingrich So you want a "gifted amateur" running the country? I don't want one to do my taxes or dental surgery. But #partyline right?
— Sinead O'Rebellion (@DWhitINger) June 8, 2016
Many thought Gingrich had already torpedoed any chance at a VP slot when he took Trump to task on air over his comments about the “Mexican” judge overseeing the Trump University case. But he’s 100 percent behind Trump — we think.
@newtgingrich It's gonna be okay, Newt. Fav if he threatened you, RT if he actually sent someone over
— Mr. Blogger Guy (@ZackBudryk) June 8, 2016
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