Brian Stelter: Trump Ripped CNN International on Same Day Putin Punished Foreign News Outlets
President Donald Trump took to Twitter on Saturday to tear into CNN, as he is wont to do. However, in this instance, not only did he rip CNN as “fake news” and praise Fox News, the president also criticized CNN International. Stating that the outlet represents “our Nation to the WORLD very poorly.”
At the top of today’s Reliable Sources, CNN senior media correspondent Brian Stelter noted that on the same day Trump tweeted that the “outside world does not see the truth” from CNN International, Russian President Vladimir Putin signed into law a measure that would allow the Russian government to list foreign news outlets as foreign agents. This is seen as retaliation over the United States forcing Russian media agencies like Russia Today and Sputnik News to register as foreign agents.
“Okay, so what’s going on here?” Stelter noted. “Basically, this law in Russia is the precursor to regulating news outlets based in other countries. What that means is that the U.S. Government-funded outlets like Voice of America will probably have to register in Russia as foreign agents.”
After noting that CNN International will likely be targeted by Russia, Stelter said that some feel this is “Trump’s way of telling Putin — make sure you crack down on CNN International” while also noting that it could be completely coincidental.
“Either way, Trump’s tweet reads like an invitation to undemocratic regimes around the world to harass CNN journalists with the blessing of the U.S. President,” Stelter concluded. “Is this presidential? No. Is it petty? Definitely.”
Watch the clip above, via CNN.
[image via screengrab]
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