CNN and others say the tweet was \u00ab\u00a0juvenile\u00a0\u00bb and reckless.<\/b>
\nAs an investigation into possible Russian collusion unfurls and Republican legislators struggle to push through the health care reform agenda that fueled his candidacy, President Donald Trump has once again taken to Twitter to address his top priority: attacking the media. Literally.
The video clip shows Trump pummeling a man with a CNN logo emblazoned on his head. It\u2019s modified from actual footage of Trump wrestling in the WWE, and the man made over in CNN\u2019s image is WWE head Vince McMahon. According to the BBC, the altered video originally surfaced on a pro-Trump Reddit forum.
CNN immediately derided the tweet as \u201cjuvenile behavior far below the dignity of his office\u201d and an incitement to violence against members of the press. If true, that would violate Twitter’s terms of service, which specifically prohibit direct or indirect threats of violence.
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Democratic politicians have, not surprisingly, been equally critical of the President\u2019s online outburst, with California Representative Ted Lieu calling it \u201cbeyond disturbing.\u00a0\u00bb But there are already criticisms on the right, as well, with Republican CNN and ABC commentator Ana Navarro also calling the tweet \u201can incitement to violence.\u201d
More backlash from the right could be forthcoming. Republicans have already criticized Trump for a series of tweets last week making scathing personal attacks on Morning Joe cohosts Joe Scarborough and Mika Brzezinski. Among other Republican comments, Senator Lindsey Graham said the attacks were \u201cbeneath the office\u201d of the Presidency.
There are real-world signs that Trump’s treatment of the media has amounted to the promotion of violence. There were multiple incidents of reporters being attacked at Trump campaign events last fall. Just over a month ago, Republican congressional candidate Greg Gianforte was charged with assault for attacking a Guardian reporter at a political rally\u2014an attack that the victim, coincidentally, described as a \u00ab\u00a0body slam.\u00a0\u00bb
Gianforte nonetheless won his election. Trump\u2019s attacks on the media also seem to go over well with his core supporters, who are highly suspicious of the press. But those who know their wrestling have questioned whether this particular media attack really has its usual upside for Trump.<\/p>\n

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