'You are fake news!' Trump presides over turbulent news conference

[webfact]

'You are fake news!' Trump presides over turbulent news conference

By Ayesha Rascoe

REUTERS

 

U.S. President-elect Donald Trump speaks during a news conference in the lobby of Trump Tower in Manhattan, New York City, U.S., January 11, 2017. REUTERS/Lucas Jackson

 

NEW YORK (Reuters) - The drama started early at Donald Trump's first news conference as president-elect.

 

Trump, who spent much of his U.S. presidential campaign bashing the news media for what he called unfair coverage, kicked off with uncharacteristic praise for the New York Times and other media organizations.

 

The reason? The Times, and others, had held back on reporting salacious and unsubstantiated allegations that suggested Trump could be blackmailed by Russia.

 

The praise did not last long. For those organizations that he said had crossed the line - BuzzFeed, which released an unsubstantiated memo about the allegations, and CNN, which was one of the first to report on the broader story - he delivered a scathing critique.

 

"You are fake news," Trump said to CNN correspondent Jim Acosta, calling his organization terrible and declining to take a question from him despite Acosta's several attempts to shout one.

 

That dust-up was one of many theatrical moments at the first news conference in six months for Trump, a businessman and reality TV star-turned-politician who enters the White House on Jan. 20.

 

There was turbulence even before Trump took the lectern in the lobby of his Manhattan tower. The president-elect's team had set out about 80 chairs, not nearly enough for the roughly 250 journalists who were present.

 

Trump's team created some suspense when beforehand four aides walked to the front of the room and placed thick stacks of paper on a table. Trump would get to that later.

 

CHEERING SECTION

 

When the president-elect arrived, a group of staff and supporters standing in a space near the elevators in the Trump Tower lobby applauded. That group would act as Trump's personal cheering section during the news conference, clapping and whooping whenever he made points they liked. The press does not normally cheer the president at such events.

 

At the start, Trump stood off to the side with his three oldest children while he had two introductions - one from his incoming press secretary, Sean Spicer, and one from his running mate, Mike Pence. Both slammed media organizations for reporting the unsubstantiated allegations.

 

CNN later released a statement about its reporting.

 

"CNN's decision to publish carefully sourced reporting about the operations of our government is vastly different from BuzzFeed's decision to publish unsubstantiated memos," it said. "The Trump team knows this."

 

BuzzFeed CEO Jonah Peretti in a memo to employees defended the decision to publish the dossier, referring to it as a "newsworthy document."

 

Trump stood in front of a row of American flags, using a presidential and patriotic display as a backdrop.

 

As the questioning grew more intense, he brought up an attorney, who gave a long and detailed pitch on live television about how the business owner would attempt to avoid conflicts of interest.

 

The lawyer's presentation acted as a brief intermission to the frenzied pace.

 

Once Trump was ready to end, he pointed to the stacks of paper by the lectern. He said he was unsure it had been properly explained that they represented some of the paperwork he had filled out to begin placing his business in the hands of his sons so long as he is president, a maximum of eight years.

 

If after eight years of running his business he found the sons had not done a good job, he would tell them, "You're fired," Trump said, using a catchphrase from "The Apprentice," the reality TV show he hosted.

 

(Reporting by Ayesha Rascoe in New York and Jeff Mason in Washington; Editing by Caren Bohan and Howard Goller)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2017-01-12

[Boon Mee]

Guess he's had enough of being bashed about by the MSM, eh?

[Kerryd]

Can't wait to see what he does when he is actually under pressure from some international crisis, or seriously gets caught with his hand in the cookie jar.

 

Sheesh - 2 months ago the odds-makers were giving it 3-1 that he wouldn't make it through his first term and since then have changed it to 5-2 and then 9-4 so it seems the majority are still betting he's impeached during his first term.

 

[Credo]

I tried to watch it, but the man is a self aggrandizing, narcissist.   He pontificated on how wonderful his team would be.   He stumbled, he bumbled and I eventually changed the channel.   I'd rather read about it than live through it.   

[Ulysses G.]

I liked when he called BuzzFeed and CNN fake news. Even the New York Times said pretty much the same thing. There's plenty of lies eminating from both sides of the political aisle as far as news coverage goes. 

[KarenBravo]

20th January. Let the games begin.

Going to be the best entertainment on the planet for the next four years.......

[petesc55]

We wanted change in the worst way, and I think we'll get it.

 

 

[Andaman Al]

27 minutes ago, Ulysses G. said:

I liked when he called BuzzFeed and CNN fake news. Even the New York Times said pretty much the same thing. There's plenty of lies eminating from both sides of the political aisle as far as news coverage goes. 

Then you have no idea whatsoever of what CNN reported and have clearly not even bothered to find out the truth before making comment. Ignorant and arrogant. Trump supporter qualities in abundance.

[optad]

The issue of verified reporting, ethical journalism,  is a critical one and something the millennials have not seen as valued in their lifetimes. Buzzfeed is synonymous with this type of product. Easily shared and spread and believed by the cognizant poor.

 

Trump scores on this one and unfortunately here but as usual only as it suits him today. It should be noted all news organisations had this material but decided against publishing it, on unsubstantiated grounds. Only buzzfeed, then CNN reporting on what buzzfeed had done put it into the public domain.

 

These are the arguments better news services appealed to all of us to subscribe too, ie NYT, Washington Post, which mostly we didn't and the prevalence social news service is now what we have. Even my local paper uses 80% youtube or facebook orientated news to gather content. Paucity of these times in this area is awful.

[Andaman Al]

24 minutes ago, petesc55 said:

We wanted change in the worst way, and I think we'll get it.

 

 

100% correct!  I laughed out loud watching it. I liked the bit where he was saying he respects the press and loves the press! After a year of calling them all dishonest. It was only 4 months ago he was saying the NY Times was rubbish and would sink and today he was saying how wonderful they are. Roughly translated meaning "I love you when you do not write bad things about me" it was totally pathetic.

 

He is going to 'repeal and replace' Obamacare "probably on the same day, same hour"!!!  He also said he was considering leaving Obamacare so when it fails everyone can suffer and blame Democrats!

 

What about the Arab he named  who supposedly offered Trump a 2 Billion Dollar deal at the weekend but Trump refused it for the good of the Presidency.  No loss of face to the Arab he named there then is there! I doubt Trump will get a repeat offer.

 

The real shocker - How about the bit where he says he thinks his own intelligence agencies released the fake news!    How would you like to go Donald? Quick, slow, poison, bullet, garrotte. I am still unsure he is going to make it to inauguration day as there is a huge scandal just waiting to be dropped in the lap of the USA. More popcorn.

 

As for the end where he looks in the camera pointing his finger saying he will tell his son's "you're Fired" if they screw up his business, just how cheesy and pathetic does it get. Is this supposed to be a statesman, a world leader? He made the USA a laughing stock with the press conference. The world press will find out about the truth in Russia even if the US press back off. Right now there are a couple of hookers in Russia realising they are about to become very rich, as they need to spill the beans to save them from being found in a bag floating down the river. Eight days before PeeOTUS Elect takes the oath. I wonder what those hackers might release?

Edited January 12, 2017 by Andaman Al

[mtls2005]

Wow, not sure that could have gone much worse? 

 

Ms. Conway will be earning her money spinning this debacle.

[craigt3365]

1 hour ago, Boon Mee said:

Guess he's had enough of being bashed about by the MSM, eh?

He also said Russia hacking into the DNC's email servers was fake news.  Now, he admits it.  Backtracking and lying as usual.

 

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/01/11/us/politics/trumps-press-conference-highlights-russia.html?emc=edit_ae_20170111&nl=todaysheadlines-asia&nlid=58582962

Quote

Donald Trump Concedes Russia’s Interference in Election

 

[craigt3365]

53 minutes ago, Ulysses G. said:

I liked when he called BuzzFeed and CNN fake news. Even the New York Times said pretty much the same thing. There's plenty of lies eminating from both sides of the political aisle as far as news coverage goes. 

But as has been proven, Trump is #1 for lies.  Interesting analysis of his lies during his speech.  Jeez.  Not sure how people can still support this guy.

 

http://www.factcheck.org/2017/01/factchecking-trumps-press-conference-2/

Quote

In his first press conference since July, President-elect Donald Trump repeated some false and misleading claims on jobs, health care and his tax returns:

 

[ilostmypassword]

1 hour ago, Ulysses G. said:

I liked when he called BuzzFeed and CNN fake news. Even the New York Times said pretty much the same thing. There's plenty of lies eminating from both sides of the political aisle as far as news coverage goes. 

This is like saying all politicians lie. Nobody lies as much or as egregiously as Trump.. As for fake news. over and over again the people who purposely create fake news websites just to get clicks and make money say they try to also to make them for liberals but it just doesn't work.  There's a huge difference between slant and outright lying. Breitbart.com very recently just outright lied about a Muslim mob in Germany burning down a church.

[Ulysses G.]

4 minutes ago, ilostmypassword said:

As for fake news. over and over again the people who purposely create fake news websites just to get clicks and make money say they try to also to make them for liberals but it just doesn't work.

 

Utter nonsense as usual. There is plenty of CREDIBLE reporting on fake news being consumed by both sides. Blaming it all on conservatives is just one more dishonest, partisan talking point.

 

http://www.businessinsider.com/fake-news-left-liberal-problem-2016-12

[lannarebirth]

25 minutes ago, craigt3365 said:

But as has been proven, Trump is #1 for lies.  Interesting analysis of his lies during his speech.  Jeez.  Not sure how people can still support this guy.

 

http://www.factcheck.org/2017/01/factchecking-trumps-press-conference-2/

 

 

Yes, a dishonest man at his core, and one badly in need of a thesaurus.

[mtls2005]

We need a new term for the hot mess that is Pee-OTUS; dumpster fire, train-wreck just don't seem sufficient?

 

Or maybe that new term will just be a simple "Trump". As in Johnny Manziel has done a total Trump.

[craigt3365]

11 minutes ago, Ulysses G. said:

 

Utter nonsense as usual. There is plenty of CREDIBLE reporting on fake news being consumed by both sides. Blaming it all on conservatives is just one more dishonest, partisan talking point.

 

http://www.businessinsider.com/fake-news-left-liberal-problem-2016-12

It's also nonsense to say CNN is a fake news site.  It's far from that.

[iReason]

Pathetic:

 

CHEERING SECTION

 

"When the president-elect arrived, a group of staff and supporters standing in a space near the elevators in the Trump Tower lobby applauded.

That group would act as Trump's personal cheering section during the news conference, clapping and whooping whenever he made points they liked."

[mtls2005]

The cheering section shows his special form of insecurity.

 

And he couldn't even handle the one 'heckler' (from CNN) without looking like a complete doofus.

[Slip]

40 minutes ago, iReason said:

Pathetic:

 

CHEERING SECTION

 

"When the president-elect arrived, a group of staff and supporters standing in a space near the elevators in the Trump Tower lobby applauded.

That group would act as Trump's personal cheering section during the news conference, clapping and whooping whenever he made points they liked."

Four legs good, two legs bad?

[Pimay1]

Good for Donald. It's about time someone called in CNN on the carpet for their reckless news reporting.

[craigt3365]

1 minute ago, Pimay1 said:

Good for Donald. It's about time someone called in CNN on the carpet for their reckless news reporting.

What was reckless?

 

http://edition.cnn.com/videos/politics/2017/01/11/jake-tapper-defends-donald-trump-intelligence-report-fake-news-sot.cnn

[mercman24]

my money is on a bullet.

[mtls2005]

2 minutes ago, mercman24 said:

my money is on a bullet.

Homeland S06?

 

Or Pneumonia, a la William Henry Harrison, bad weather at inauguration.

 

 

[mtls2005]

Great! He gave the media what they deserved.

 

Weird take. The American people should be the audience, and the Pee-OTUS should be prepared to deliver those messages he feels the public needs to hear.

 

He had a golden opportunity to shower the public with an update on his transition, and first 100 days, yet he behaved like a petulant 9 year old.

[Jimbo2014]

Everything about Trump is Fake - Why not throw in some news!

[Silurian]

1 hour ago, iReason said:

Pathetic:

 

CHEERING SECTION

 

"When the president-elect arrived, a group of staff and supporters standing in a space near the elevators in the Trump Tower lobby applauded.

That group would act as Trump's personal cheering section during the news conference, clapping and whooping whenever he made points they liked."

 

I guess he misses the Thank You tour crowd and has to make sure he is beloved by his audience with constant adoration. The child POTUS-elect continues to show us his true nature. What a truly pathetic person.

[kevkev1888]

7 minutes ago, mtls2005 said:

Great! He gave the media what they deserved.

 

Weird take. The American people should be the audience, and the Pee-OTUS should be prepared to deliver those messages he feels the public needs to hear.

 

He had a golden opportunity to shower the public with an update on his transition, and first 100 days, yet he behaved like a petulant 9 year old.

 

You see, now you THINK you have a reason to call him the Pee-OTUS, and joke about golden showers.

Like I said PATHETIC!!!!

 

[ilostmypassword]

31 minutes ago, Ulysses G. said:

 

Utter nonsense as usual. There is plenty of CREDIBLE reporting on fake news being consumed by both sides. Blaming it all on conservatives is just one more dishonest, partisan talking point.

 

http://www.businessinsider.com/fake-news-left-liberal-problem-2016-12

Wow, you can't even find good examples to support your case. Didn't you find it all suspect the for the first story cited the author of the article provided no links? The article gives the impression that the outrage was about this family supposedly fleeing because of anti semitism. No mention of that fact that the outrage was because Fox News and Breitbart.com come spread a story that a school christmas play was cancelled because a family objected to the play on religious grounds.

http://insider.foxnews.com/2016/12/18/centerville-christmas-carol-play-ended-parents-object-god-bless-us-lancaster

The family was Jewish.  

So I googled the story.

Here's how the liberal slanted press actually reported it

 https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/acts-of-faith/wp/2016/12/22/jewish-family-in-lancaster-pa-threatened-after-being-falsely-blamed-for-cancellation-of-school-christmas-play/?utm_term=.1b5f59b45bd2

The Post mentoned quoted Abraham Foxman of the Anti-Defamation League to say that the family didn't flee but was just on vacation. But the Post also quoted a local news service that spoke with the family and their report was very different.

Editor’s Note: This story has been amended to reflect further comments from the parents of a Centerville Elementary School student who removed their child from class over concerns for their and their child’s safety. The parents told the Anti-Defamation League Thursday they were traveling on a previously planned vacation. The family told LNP and LancasterOnline their child was being harassed and blamed for the cancellation of “A Christmas Carol,” and that they were concerned for their and their child's safety.

http://lancasteronline.com/news/local/jewish-family-removes-child-from-hempfield-school-amid-backlash-over/article_435f7280-c7ba-11e6-8bad-e7ec3754fa69.html

Because of Fair use rules I can only quote 3 sentences. The 4th sentence says the lancasteronline.com stands by its original reporting.

What's more, the ADL did not debunk that story.

 "She (ADL Rep.] told me that the ADL did not contest “the actual story content,” including the fact that the family was disturbed by reactions to false media reports blaming the parents for the cancellation of the play. Rather, the ADL objected to the word “fled,” which “conjures up a very scary scenario,” such as “Syrian refugees fleeing the country with the shirt on their back.” The ADL “is not saying that the general statements of the story are untrue,” Baron-Baer explained."

http://www.slate.com/blogs/the_slatest/2016/12/22/jewish_family_flees_county_following_fox_news_breitbart_stories.html

 

I could go on with this but the point is that you misleadingly claim that because you can find fake news articles in the liberal press, they're no different from the right wing press.   You know, Japan is the nation that has the lowest murder rate in the world. Honduras has the highest.  According to your way of thinking, since they both have murders, the problem in both countries is the same. 

In the internet world we live in, anybody can find isolated bits of data. But without reference to frequency, such data is meaningless.

There has never been a candidate or soon-to-be president who lies with the frequency and extremity of Donald Trump. Never. There is no left wing press that corresponds in scale to the right wing fake news websites that lie so egregiously and repeatedly. And to maintain otherwise is to lie about the issue.