Both President Trump and White House press secretary Sarah Sanders pointed this out via Twitter:
The Wall Street Journal stated falsely that I said to them “I have a good relationship with Kim Jong Un” (of N. Korea). Obviously I didn’t say that. I said “I’d have a good relationship with Kim Jong Un,” a big difference. Fortunately we now record conversations with reporters…
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 14, 2018
…and they knew exactly what I said and meant. They just wanted a story. FAKE NEWS!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 14, 2018
— Sarah Sanders (@PressSec) January 13, 2018
Here is the official audio showing WSJ misquoting @POTUS pic.twitter.com/wVwoafYkHg
— Sarah Sanders (@PressSec) January 14, 2018
The above example is one of many reasons why the press is frequently dubbed as “fake news.” Therefore, comparing President Trump to infamous dictators does not suffice in the eyes of many Trump supporters. Ultimately, the media has more than earned the nickname of fake news, affirms the President’s base.
Also, it is worth noting that despite the misreport, the Wall Street Journal has yet to issue a retraction or an apology. Shortly after the President’s tweets, the publication stated their decision to “stand by what [they] reported.”
BREAKING: White House releases recording of Wall Street Journal interview proving that the newspaper lied about Trump's relationship with Kim Jong Un. pic.twitter.com/Ji7FduotYo
— Wired Sources (@WiredSources) January 14, 2018
Senator Flake has yet to comment on the latest controversy surrounding the Wall Street Journal. However, the aforementioned report has fanned the flames regarding the validity of assertions of “fake news.”
