By Dustin Rowles | Politics | September 16, 2016 |
By Dustin Rowles | Politics | September 16, 2016 |
There have been so many moments during this campaign that we thought might reflect a turning point in the way that Donald Trump is covered that I’m reluctant to believe that this one thing is going to be the decisive moment, but I can tell you this: Right now, the press is furious.
I actually think this might have been the final straw for many in the media - they're tired of being played for fools by Trump.
— Jon Favreau (@jonfavs) September 16, 2016
This morning, Donald Trump — surrounded by military figures and standing in front of his new hotel to ensure that it is heavily promoted — quickly announced that he now believes that President Obama was born in the United States.
“President Barack Obama was born in the United States, period. Now, we all want to get back to making America strong and great again. Hillary Clinton and her campaign of 2008 started the birther controversy. I finished it.”
Hillary Clinton did not start the lie, although some of her supporters during the 2008 campaign did make a few insinuations, insinuations that Hillary Clinton never validated or legitimized.
The press thankfully is calling out Donald Trump on that lie.
But here’s the thing: Trump didn’t end the debate. He didn’t apologize. He didn’t put anything to rest.
Trump didn’t apologize. He didn’t even really acknowledge that he was wrong. Then he hustled off that stage like the coward he is.
— Jamil Smith (@JamilSmith) September 16, 2016
https://t.co/jPA5wJzS7v Every line in the Trump "birther" statement is a flat-out lie.
— Amanda Marcotte (@AmandaMarcotte) September 16, 2016
Trump acknowledged no factual error, expressed no remorse, and introduced new misinformation about the subject.
— Matthew Yglesias (@mattyglesias) September 16, 2016
He also screwed over a lot of reporters and tried to use this course reversal as a means to promote his new hotel. He refused to allow follow-up questions. He got the image of his new hotel in the picture, and he split.
The press is not having it.
You don't just get to push eight years of race-baiting lies about the president and then pull a "never mind!" Let's not pretend otherwise.
— Seth Mandel (@SethAMandel) September 16, 2016
Trump tried to use this “campaign event” to promote his hotel. Once he gained the free promotion he wanted, he quickly made his blunt statement and got the hell out of dodge.
Where it concerns his hotel, the press basically told Donald Trump to go fuck himself.
Meanwhile, the Trump campaign apparently took a bunch of cameras w them for a hotel tour just now, and blocked two pool journos for campaign
— Maggie Haberman (@maggieNYT) September 16, 2016
Trump is touring his hotel with cameras, no reporters who cover campaign…because this is not actually a campaign event. It's a promo.
— Maggie Haberman (@maggieNYT) September 16, 2016
Trump now touring hotel w/ stills & TV pool cam. Not allowing editorial presence as far as we know. Reporters part of normal pool not there
— Noah Gray (@NoahGrayCNN) September 16, 2016
Sara Murray saying that press pool producer was physically restrained from going on hotel tour with Trump
— Michael Cohen (@speechboy71) September 16, 2016
A source says Trump broadcast pool just erased tape of his tour of the hotel in protest of bait-and-switch w no editorial access.
— Maggie Haberman (@maggieNYT) September 16, 2016
Can confirm Trump broadcast pool erased the tape of his tour of the hotel
— Ben Jacobs (@Bencjacobs) September 16, 2016
This may actually honest-to-God represent a turn in the way that Trump is covered.
The worm has turned https://t.co/vze7R7oSYY
— Michael Cohen (@speechboy71) September 16, 2016
Make no mistake: this was a very bad day for Trump. He couldn't have handled this birther issue worse & it's not going away
— Michael Cohen (@speechboy71) September 16, 2016
Trump might have tried to play the media, but instead he played himself.
— Michael Cohen (@speechboy71) September 16, 2016
Trump just pissed off the news media at the same time they are getting pilloried for coverage of Clinton. Let the pile-on begin
— Michael Cohen (@speechboy71) September 16, 2016
not sure i've seen the press this pissed at Trump
— Eric Boehlert (@EricBoehlert) September 16, 2016
The reports about the statement have reflected that hostility.
CNN's @jaketapper eviscerates Trump over false claims that Hillary started birtherism and Trump ended it. pic.twitter.com/osm4GRQuIV
— John Aravosis (@aravosis) September 16, 2016
Ashleigh Banfield on CNN is completely fed up with Trump's "birther crap" 🔥🔥 pic.twitter.com/4AvcEckaAb
— John Whitehouse (@existentialfish) September 16, 2016
Maybe the media has finally come to its senses. Maybe the media will stop covering Donald Trump like a celebrity, and start covering him like a presidential candidate, and requiring of him what is required of a presidential candidate.
He didn’t make any friends today, that’s for damn sure.
Trump made a damaging miscalculation today.
— Jon Favreau (@jonfavs) September 16, 2016