FIRST AMENDMENT? WHAT FIRST AMENDMENT?
Top US State Dept Spokesperson Under Fire After Trying to Troll CNN – and Failing, Bigly
The President of the United States is at an important summit in Singapore, supposedly negotiating nuclear disarmament (or trying to) with North Korean dictator Kim Jong-un. Trump himself blasted U.S. allies for what he claimed was a lack of support and for not focusing on his talks, but Trump’s own State Dept. spokesperson apparently didn’t get the memo.
In a ridiculous tweet Heather Nauert tried to troll Trump’s least-favorite news outlet, possibly in an attempt to curry favor with her boss’s boss.
Apparently from Singapore, Nauert tweeted what appears to be a photo of Trump with children, and wrote: “Hey @cnn where was @Potus today? Meeting with his national security team and greeting our dedicated embassy colleagues from US Embassy Singapore! Without them, #SingaporeSummit wouldn’t be possible.”
Hey @cnn where was @Potus today? Meeting with his national security team and greeting our dedicated embassy colleagues from US Embassy Singapore! Without them, #SingaporeSummit wouldn’t be possible. pic.twitter.com/WO6lCMTMRD
— Heather Nauert (@statedeptspox) June 11, 2018
One TIME correspondent reminded Nauert the event was closed to the press:
One possible explanation for lack of coverage of this event could be that it was closed to the press. https://t.co/eoOKyhVd0y
— Phil Elliott (@Philip_Elliott) June 11, 2018
The White House liked Nauert’s tweet so much they retweeted it.
Nauert, by the way, was roundly mocked just last week for using D-Day as an example of America’s long and strong relationship with Germany. D-Day celebrates America’s win against Germany.
Others weighed in:
Is the official spokesperson for the DOS seriously trying to troll a major media outlet? Do you actually think that is at-all appropriate for someone in your position to do over their official account? Is Shireen Dodson still the DOS ombudsman…?
— Timothy Smith (@tjsnh) June 11, 2018
You’re an embarrassment. History will remember you and it will not be kind.
— Mary Kate Killilea (@1mkk) June 11, 2018
Nice combative tone. You’re perfect for this Administration. Everybody is the enemy…except the enemy. #ImpeachTrump
— Coach Reggie Dunlop (@ChiefsHeadCoach) June 11, 2018
Hey, State Department. You are supposed to be working to uphold the constitution and American values throughout the world, not working with dictators to bring down our free press. Go back to Russia.
— JoeVet (@joevettweets) June 11, 2018
So, you are as unprofessional as the rest of the bunch, I see, calling out one particular media entity whose reporting you don’t like.
— Cliff Homesley (@drawlinglawyer) June 11, 2018
The State Department is officially attacking the free press of the United States. Is there nothing less American than that? Heather Nauert, @statedeptspox, should be immediately fired. https://t.co/uGDB2Bd3QJ
— JoeVet (@joevettweets) June 11, 2018
WTH? Heather Nauert should be fired for this comment. Attacking a media outlet? Really? Is that what’s on your mind today?
— Gail (@gailcara_gail) June 11, 2018
Others wondered why the photo of Trump’s national security team and dedicated embassy colleagues is of children.
Our embassy is staffed by children?
— John Infanti (@Johnny_2Hats) June 11, 2018
So our embassy in Singapore is manned by schoolchildren? You people at the WH need to learn how to write a photo caption correctly. Or post appropriate pictures that actually illustrate your caption. One or the other. Get it together.
— DebWeb (@debwillis) June 11, 2018
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