Cameron slams Trump for ‘dangerous’ attacks on ‘fake news’

David Cameron has slammed Donald Trump for making ‘dangerous’ attacks on the media by accusing western outlets of ‘fake news’ when the real problem is Russia. 

The former Prime Minister lashed the US President for overreacting to critical press reports and accused him ‘misappropriating’ the term fake news.

Mr Cameron made the claim in a speech in London at Transparency International, an anti-corruption think tank. 

Mr Cameron – who left Downing Street after last year’s referendum – has spent much of the past 18 months making paid speeches and writing his memoirs.

David Cameron (pictured making his speech last night) has slammed Donald Trump for making ‘dangerous’ attacks on the media by accusing western outlets of ‘fake news’ when the real problem is Russia

Mr Trump routinely makes attacks on journalists and media organisations he disagrees with, winning the White House by going on the offensive against critical reports.

In his lecture, Mr Cameron said: ‘President Trump: fake news is not broadcasters criticising you, it’s Russian bots and trolls targeting your democracy, pumping out untrue stories day after day, night after night

‘When you misappropriate the term fake news, you are deflecting attention from real abuses.

‘Ignoring what’s happening on social media is facilitating a form of corruption that is undermining democracy.’ 

The former Prime Minister lashed US President Donald Trump (pictured at the White House last night) for overreacting to critical press reports and accused him 'misappropriating' the term fake news

The former Prime Minister lashed US President Donald Trump (pictured at the White House last night) for overreacting to critical press reports and accused him ‘misappropriating’ the term fake news

Mr Trump routinely makes attacks on journalists and media organisations he disagrees with (including on Twitter yesterday, pictured)

Mr Trump routinely makes attacks on journalists and media organisations he disagrees with (including on Twitter yesterday, pictured)

Yesterday afternoon, Mr Trump tweeted: ‘Wow, more than 90% of Fake News Media coverage of me is negative, with numerous forced retractions of untrue stories. 

‘Hence my use of Social Media, the only way to get the truth out. Much of Mainstream Meadia has become a joke!’ 

In an example of alleged Kremlin corruption, Mr Cameron highlighted Russia’s victory in the contest to host next year’s World Cup.

He claimed: ‘I am sure (President Vladimir Putin) wasn’t completely surprised when Russia actually won the bid.

‘You couldn’t make it up. In the years since, 10 of the 22 members of that Fifa executive committee were indicted or punished.’

In an example of alleged Kremlin corruption, Mr Cameron highlighted Russia's victory in the contest to host next year's World Cup and said Vladimir Putin (pictured in Syria this week) would not have been surprised when the result was announced 

In an example of alleged Kremlin corruption, Mr Cameron highlighted Russia’s victory in the contest to host next year’s World Cup and said Vladimir Putin (pictured in Syria this week) would not have been surprised when the result was announced 

Mr Cameron said the EU had been ‘too slow’ to act in response to Russian interference.

He said: ‘Barack Obama used to challenge European leaders over how we seemed to ignore or even tolerate Russian subversion of some eastern European business, energy, media or even political interests.

‘He was bang on target.’ 



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