The president tweeted the video out Sunday morning.
The video that President Trump tweeted out early Sunday showing him bodyslamming a man whose face was obscured by the CNN logo appears to have come from a user on Reddit.
A user with the handle « HanAssholeSolo » said that he/she originally posted the gif on Reddit.
« Holy shit!! I wake up and have my morning coffee and who retweets my shitpost but the MAGA EMPORER himself!!! » the user commented.
The one that the president tweeted was tweaked slightly to include the words « FNN: Fraud News Network. » The video appears to be a doctored version of Trump’s 2007 appearance on World Wrestling Entertainment Inc. The 28-second clip was posted on Trump’s official Twitter account, with the message: « #FraudNewsCNN #FNN. »
Trump stayed on the attack later in the day, stating on Twitter that « the dishonest media will NEVER keep us from accomplishing our objectives on behalf of our GREAT AMERICAN PEOPLE! »
Many in the media reacted with outrage. CNN said the tweet « encourages violence against reporters, » adding: « We will keep doing our jobs. He should start doing his. »
Bruce Brown, executive director of the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press, condemned the video as a « threat of physical violence against journalists. » He said Trump’s tweet was « beneath the office of the presidency. »
A White House aide insisted the tweet should not send a chill across the media landscape.
« I think that no one would perceive that as a threat, » homeland security adviser Tom Bossert said. « I hope they don’t. But I do think that he’s beaten up in a way on cable platforms that he has a right to respond to. »
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
