Twitter Rips Trump For Demanding WaPo Reporter Be Fired: ‘Threat to the First Amendment’
After Donald Trump called for the firing of Washington Post reporter Dave Weigel for tweeting a misleading photo on one of his rallies, Twitter tore into the president for posing a “public threat to the First Amendment.”
“@daveweigel of the Washington Post just admitted that his picture was a FAKE (fraud?) showing an almost empty arena last night for my speech in Pensacola when, in fact, he knew the arena was packed (as shown also on T.V.). FAKE NEWS, he should be fired,” tweeted Trump on Sunday night, despite the fact that Weigel had already corrected the tweet prior to the president’s follow-up post.
.@daveweigel of the Washington Post just admitted that his picture was a FAKE (fraud?) showing an almost empty arena last night for my speech in Pensacola when, in fact, he knew the arena was packed (as shown also on T.V.). FAKE NEWS, he should be fired.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 9, 2017
The Post reporter, who previously wrote for the libertarian publication Reason magazine, admitted to his mistake — which was posting a photo that suggested Trump’s Pensacola, Florida crowd size was smaller than it actually was — immediately after the president called him out on Twitter.
Sure thing: I apologize. I deleted the photo after @dmartosko told me I’d gotten it wrong. Was confused by the image of you walking in the bottom right corner. https://t.co/fQY7GMNSaD
— Dave Weigel (@daveweigel) December 9, 2017
Additionally, Weigel admitted the post was “a bad tweet” and said that it was “very fair” for Trump to attack him over it.
However, many of the popular pundits, journalists, and commentators were disgusted and disturbed by the president’s call for Weigel’s firing even after he corrected his mistake. Below are a few of the most popular tweets condemning or mocking Trump for his continuous attack on the Post reporter:
He apologized for his tweet and explained he made an error and got it wrong. Weigel is an honest journalist — anyone that knows him knows he wouldn’t intentionally tweet misinformation. https://t.co/FBzcuMnZEo
— Oliver Darcy (@oliverdarcy) December 9, 2017
The president calling for a journalist to be fired seems like a public threat to the First Amendment. https://t.co/Vx4csNtIP4
— Kyle Griffin (@kylegriffin1) December 9, 2017
And apologized as Trump demanded. And then Trump said that’s not enough. Almost feels like wanting the apology wasn’t the point. https://t.co/v3dwtpC8Gr
— Maggie Haberman (@maggieNYT) December 9, 2017
I don’t even know why I’m bothering, but… There’s a difference between journalists making a mistake and correcting it, and actual fake news. Trump and others trying to conflate the two.
— Amanda Terkel (@aterkel) December 9, 2017
trump: dave weigel! apologize to me!
dave weigel: ok, you’re right. I apologize.
trump: actually now he should lose his job too! pic.twitter.com/VnZvaLdjNF
— jordan yule log ⛄️ (@JordanUhl) December 9, 2017
By including Dave Weigel’s @ handle, the president’s statement is inviting followers to gang up on a reporter https://t.co/3C5jKDvFP5
— Brian Stelter (@brianstelter) December 9, 2017
The fact is @daveweigel has more integrity than the entire White House staff put together and all Trump’s lackeys know it, too.
— Subscribe to My Newsletter (@mattyglesias) December 9, 2017
At least in smearing a person of integrity like @daveweigel, Trump will catch a glimpse of why high character and credibility are important virtues.
— Brian Beutler (@brianbeutler) December 9, 2017
dave weigel gets a lot of shit from online but he’s an insanely good reporter and his work ethic frightens me
— chris hooks (@cd_hooks) December 9, 2017
Kinda curious if this traffic to @daveweigel’s profile page leads to people clicking the link in his bio and buying his book: The Show That Never Ends: The Rise and Fall of Prog Rock.
— Pat Ward (@WardDPatrick) December 9, 2017
Trump demanding that Twitter user @pissfart69420 be fired for posting the “Fake News” that Trump can fit a plum in his belly button
— Patrick Monahan (@pattymo) December 9, 2017
The best reporters make errors; @daveweigel is a great reporter who made a mistake and corrected it, only to end up bullied by the president of the United States, who has a lengthy record of false statements and a nonexistent record of correcting them.
— Adam Serwer ? (@AdamSerwer) December 9, 2017
Dave Weigel is one of the best reporters in the world.
He made a mistake — in a tweet! — about CROWD SIZE. He admitted it. He apologized for it. And now the President of the United States is trying to get him fired.
Thanks for tackling the important issues, Mr. President. https://t.co/awIKpnHANX
— Matt Fuller (@MEPFuller) December 9, 2017
The president of the United States calling for the firing of a reporter for a mistaken tweet for which he’d acknowledged error and deleted. https://t.co/w5ruxE362C
— Matthew Gertz (@MattGertz) December 9, 2017
Trump doesn’t want corrections or apologies. He wants total surrender. None of this is ever in good faith or on the level, whether it’s him or his propaganda outlets.
Remember, we’re not crazy. He’s crazy.
— Jon Favreau (@jonfavs) December 9, 2017
congratulations to @daveweigel for having the big man get real red and mad at him https://t.co/BJi4q42Csz
— hired goon who thinks he can ‘take’ ‘the Bat’ (@thetomzone) December 9, 2017
sir arguing with Dave Weigel is my job. your fired https://t.co/t65ROE8I0t
— Yule Hog (@ByYourLogic) December 9, 2017
.@daveweigel is antifa
— Asawin Suebsaeng (@swin24) December 9, 2017
oh no pic.twitter.com/xJYqUCtNAI
— KT NELSON (@KrangTNelson) December 9, 2017
how do i get the president to personally yell at me
— Alex Nichols (@Lowenaffchen) December 9, 2017
Not gonna be satisfied until Trump personally calls me out for doing too many Simpsons references.
— Snack Christman (@cushbomb) December 9, 2017
[image via screengrab]
