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Trump says even Rupert Murdoch’s Wall Street Journal is ‘fake news’. Twitter implodes.

04/14/2020 9:44 am ET • Mackenzie Zlatos

Twitter Reacts to Trump’s Flip-Flop on Wall Street Journal’s Credibility

Flickr / John Wisniewski & Gage Skidmore

Trump did not react well to a Wall Street Journal critique of his coronavirus briefing on April 9, and labeled the Wall Street Journal as “Fake News.”

The Wall Street Journal ran a critical editorial that stated that the coronavirus briefings “have become less about defeating the virus and more about the many feuds of Donald J. Trump.”

This caused Trump himself to fire back (in typical fashion) on Twitter:

The Wall Street Journal always “forgets” to mention that the ratings for the White House Press Briefings are “through the roof” (Monday Night Football, Bachelor Finale, according to @nytimes) & is only way for me to escape the Fake News & get my views across. WSJ is Fake News!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) April 9, 2020

Later in the week, however, Trump shared an op-ed published in the Wall Street Journal that seemingly had his seal of approval. He didn’t seem able to stick to his original criticism of the newspaper, owned by Rupert Murdoch.

Twitter had a few things to say about this explosion.

Republican scholars were not on Trump’s side

Donald Trump wants to put the post office out of business so he can steal your vote! 1

Unsplash / Kayla Velasquez

Jonathan Turley, a legal scholar who had testified for Republicans in the impeachment hearings, tweeted: “Trump’s attack on WSJ as “fake news” is fast reducing the only accepted source for “real news” to himself. A pandemic is clearly a ratings grabber but many of us are tuning in for information despite (not because of) attacks on any media that expresses criticism of the President.”

Trump's attack on WSJ as "fake news" is fast reducing the only accepted source for "real news" to himself. A pandemic is clearly a ratings grabber but many of us are tuning in for information despite (not because of) attacks on any media that expresses criticism of the President

— Jonathan Turley (@JonathanTurley) April 9, 2020

How many outlets are fake news?

Unsplash/Nijwam Swargiary

If all of these are fake, which ones are printing “real” news?

WSJ, NYT, WaPo, CNN, FOX & networks are FAKE NEWS!

Comey, McCabe, Yavonovitch, Yates, Sondland, Atkinson, Vindman & Volker are deep state!

The doctors & scientists are overreacting & chloroquine really works.

This is the shit you have to believe to support Trump today.

— Josh Moon (@Josh_Moon) April 9, 2020

He clearly can’t take criticism

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Flickr/Gage Skidmore

It is just another one of his temper tantrums.

tRump calling the WSJ "fake news" is a clear indicator of how deep his NPD goes. Whether you're a friend or enemy depends entirely on if you praise him or say a discouraging word.
He CANNOT tolerate criticism from anyone.
Having said that, he's the WORST, WEAKEST, MOST USELESS… https://t.co/YWjOgzrsIK

— CodeTalker (@CodeTalker) April 11, 2020

Ratings are actually tanking

Trump voters increasingly dissatisfied with coronavirus response 1

Screenshot / Navigator

Just because you don’t like it, doesn’t mean it is fake news.

Trump's approval ratings are tanking due to his disastrous mishandling of #coronavirus.

Even the Wall Street Journal, a right-wing propaganda outfit owned by Rupert Murdoch (Fox News), has turned on Trump.

Good luck branding WSJ as "fake news," Donald.https://t.co/VJEaHHm1iG

— Richard Thripp for Congress 🌊 (@richardxthripp) April 10, 2020

Murdoch-owned Fox News is not impressed

How to not let a FOX NEWS ADDICT ruin your Thanksgiving this year...GUARANTEED!

Canva/Fox News

Sounds like someone is tired of the shenanigans…

This is a ridiculous tweet. He could get his views across without bragging, endlessly repeating himself, and getting into petty squabbles with the junior varsity players in the WH press corps. And he could stop talking much sooner to give Pence, Fauci, Birx and Giroir more time. https://t.co/ui7sN3WgGx

— Brit Hume (@brithume) April 9, 2020

Is Trump “Fake News”

Twitter responds to Pelosi ripping up Trump's SOTU speech 1

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Liars gonna lie.

You have lied in every single press conference.

— Frank Figliuzzi (@FrankFigliuzzi1) April 9, 2020

Good ratings don’t always mean good things

Trump Attacks Yamiche Alcindor. Twitter Shows Love 1

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If it bleeds it leads, right?

The OJ Bronco chase also got really good ratings

— Joe Lockhart (@joelockhart) April 9, 2020

Are these briefings only about the ratings?

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Americans are looking for direction, not good ratings.

799 People Died in NYC yesterday #799 30 Million are Unemployed & this Slob @realDonaldTrump is talking about Press Conference ratings!
I got a new nickname for your Father @DonaldJTrumpJr

DISRUPTIVE & DISGUSTED new @iamrapaport is LIVE here:https://t.co/Q8XeE6KyIf pic.twitter.com/19Zq1w5d6Z

— MichaelRapaport (@MichaelRapaport) April 9, 2020

‘Tweeting nonsense’

Trump retweets fake pic of Pelosi and Schumer in Islamic garb in front of Iran flag. Twitter loses it.

Source: Screenshot / YouTube

All nonsense and no substance.

This is a US president who said two days ago it is not time for politics. No wonder he is so bad in tackling Covid19 because he spent more time tweeting nonsense to divide his nation and the world.

— Chen Weihua (@chenweihua) April 11, 2020