Twitter Wants to Know Why Trump Used An Anonymous Source Minutes After Railing Against Them
In the early part of his address to the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) on Friday, President Donald Trump railed against the use of anonymous sources in journalism.
“(T)hey have no sources,” Trump said. “They just make ’em up when there are none.”
Moments later, Donald Trump used an anonymous source.
The president was telling a story about a friend who frequently visited Paris, but no longer does because “Paris is no longer Paris.”
Trump identified this friend as “a very, very substantial guy,” and then later on as “Jim,” but he never gave Jim’s last name.
Some observers on Twitter noted the irony of Trump’s use of an unidentifiable source moments after his denunciation of them.
“He’s a very very substantial guy” – name your sources @realdonaldtrump. Who was that? #fakenews
— Nicole Sandler (@nicolesandler) February 24, 2017
@realDonaldTrump “Reporters should only use named sources.”
15min later…”I have a friend in Paris, a very substantial friend…”
— Mike O’Connell (@micheilemmett) February 24, 2017
@zgoelman He did call him “Jim,” so that narrows it down…we’re looking for very, very substantial guys named JIm…
— Justin Mitchell (@JstnMtchll) February 24, 2017
Trump says he “has a friend, a very substantial guy” who says he won’t go to Paris anymore b/c of danger. Name? Source?
— Sarah Boxer (@Sarah_Boxer) February 24, 2017
In one speech — no more anonymous sources.
Let me tell you about this one guy who won’t go to Paris.
Awesome.— Charles P. Pierce (@CharlesPPierce) February 24, 2017
Trump: Anonymous sources are bad
Trump, a little later: So this guy Jim, you know Jim, he used to visit Paris, you know Paris
— Mark Berman (@markberman) February 24, 2017
Trump slams reporters for using anonymous sources, then cites a “friend” who no longer visits Paris.
— Brian Latimer (@briskwalk) February 24, 2017
trump said there should be no more anonymous sources but doesn’t name his “substantial” friend who doesn’t go to paris anymore
— kelly cohen (@politiCOHEN_) February 24, 2017
Why is Trump using an anonymous source regarding Paris?
— Anthony De Rosa (@Anthony) February 24, 2017
Trump: I have a friend who loves Paris… Name names! No anonymous sources! #CPAC2017
— LawBlarg‽ (@LawBlarg) February 24, 2017
Trump: No anonymous sources
Also Trump: I have a friend who used to go to Paris
— Dave Itzkoff (@ditzkoff) February 24, 2017
Trump: “I have a friend…” who won’t go to Paris… (name that anonymous source?)
— Matt K. Lewis (@mattklewis) February 24, 2017
Watch above, via CNN.
[featured image via screengrab]
