President Donald Trump’s first address before a joint session of Congress was big news — big enough for all of the cable news networks to put up their countdown clocks first thing Tuesday and tick off the seconds until it happened.
That left a lot of time during the early evening for pundits to guess what might be in the speech, and for a while on social media, there was quite a bit of buzz among media types and others that Trump’s speech would hint strongly at being open to some sort of compromise on immigration reform.
It didn’t take long for viewers to realize there was no hint at amnesty whatsoever in the address.
https://twitter.com/josh_hammer/status/836781874802458624
So is the whole "Trump is going to do amnesty in the speech" fake news?
— Melissa Stone (@themissystone) March 1, 2017
This happened before. Trump team floated out possible amnesty during the race, then he gave a speech saying the exact opposite. https://t.co/NbDVkJTHEU
— Al Vaughn (@ALHVaughn) February 28, 2017
So, who was the senior administration source who floated that idea, anyway?
https://twitter.com/passantino/status/836735882300276737
The day after, it was time for Democrats and the news media to come to grips with the seeming fact that they’d been played. Sen. Chris Murphy was among those who accused Trump of lying about the contents of his speech.
.@ChrisMurphyCT: Donald Trump once again "lied" to journalists in order to get good coverage https://t.co/WymdnOcJwl https://t.co/mgdg18OAOq
— The Situation Room (@CNNSitRoom) March 1, 2017
Murphy made those comments on CNN, which itself examined the “misdirection play” by the Trump administration.
White House Official: Trump immigration compromise ‘misdirection play’ https://t.co/tWTcHGHNlc #TheLead
— Jake Tapper (@jaketapper) March 1, 2017
So…the "misdirection" from the White House on immigration from yesterday when they said DT open to a compromise, was…a LIE. SHOCKER.
— Maria Cardona (@MariaTCardona) March 1, 2017
Dear news — the word you are looking for on Trump/immigration play — "diversion tactics"
Not misdirection— Molly McKew (@MollyMcKew) March 1, 2017
Our take on Trump speech:“Press reports that Trump might embrace comprehensive immigration reform turned out to be a cruel hoax."/1
— Frank Sharry (@FrankSharry) March 1, 2017
So Donald "Fake News is Bad" Trump intentionally misled reporters while demanding to be on background?
https://t.co/XBL1yYB7Pk— Philip Bump (@pbump) March 1, 2017
It certainly seems possible that Trump misled reporters. Being stung by fake news really sucks, doesn’t it?
Less than 24hr later, White House aid told press immigration talk was 'misdirection play'. 'Alex I'll take 'we knew would happen' for $200'.
— Sandy Cornell (@SandyCornell10) March 1, 2017
We’ve got to give MSNBC’s Christopher Hayes credit for managing to see through what had the rest of the media tweeting away.
Actual email I sent to my staff yesterday before the speech pic.twitter.com/xEv16w1T2v
— Chris Hayes (@chrislhayes) March 1, 2017
easy fix – stop doing it. You're welcome.
— JMillspiii (@jmillspaghetti) March 1, 2017
Then stop doing it.
— Maggie (@maggiemae802) March 1, 2017
Yeah. It's really up to the press to 'not be that guy'.
— Jess Krywosa (@jesskry) March 1, 2017
No one says you have to keep eating the chum, Chris, just stop doing it.
— Mary Mary (@MsMaryRuthie) March 1, 2017
If you're conscious of the fact, then why do you guys do it? Makes. No. Sense. Whatsoever.
— RosaMaria (@RosaMaria112015) March 1, 2017
// Then let's not. Anyone can read a damn speech. Get over it people.
— VestalVirgins (@VVirgins16) March 1, 2017
maybe you should start emailing @CNN and @VanJones68 They fell for it hook line and sinker.
— CJ (@CJ_Kayak) March 1, 2017