‘Fake News’ upgrade: President Donald Trump invites reporters including the New York Times to watch the Democratic debate in his cabin aboard Air Force One after trashing the media at his campaign rally
- Trump invited members of the press to watch the Democratic debate aboard Air Force One
- What he said was kept off the record
- Trump repeatedly tore into the ‘fake news’ media during his Phoenix rally Wednesday night
- The debate made for dramatic television as Democratic contenders savaged Michael Bloomberg
President Donald Trump spent Wednesday night ripping into the ‘fake news’ at his campaign rally – only invite the New York Times and other traveling reporters into his private suite on Air Force One to watch part of the Democratic debate.
But the president and his aides insisted that the media members would not be able to report his commentary on the Democratic slug-fest taking place on stage in Las Vegas.
The traveling reporters were invited into Trump’s cabin on the presidential plane, which features a live television feed and comfortable viewing areas.
The president first came to the back of the plane to speak to members of the rotating pool who follow him wherever he travels. Then, he brought the pool into his cabin to watch the debate as the presidential aircraft landed in Las Vegas.
Trump invited the press to watch part of the the Democratic debate with him, though remarks were kept off the record
As it turns out, one of the pool members was from the New York Times, a paper Trump regularly attacks.
Trump had spent a chunk of his hour and twenty two minute speech in Phoenix blasting members of the media, including regular target CNN.
After kicking off remarks about two audience members who carried a World War II vet to his seat, Trump added: ‘Even Fake News CNN had him on’ air.
After blasting the ‘radical left,’ Trump said: ‘This movement has never taken place, nothing like it ever and the fake news …’
He hailed the killing of ISIS leader Al Baghdadi, then complained: ‘The fake news doesn’t want to tell you that.’
He also inveighed against ‘fake polls’ and touted favorable ones.
He mocked MSNBC as ‘MSDNC,’ saying it was ‘worse than CNN’ and consisted of a ‘bunch of flunkies.’
Trump called up Sen. Martha McSally of Arizona, who complained about the ‘liberal hack media in the back.’
Trump inveighed against what he calls the ‘fake news’ earlier Wednesday
Trump also spoke to reporters in the back of the plane, as he is seen doign in 2017
Democratic presidential candidates (L-R) former New York City Mayor Mike Bloomberg, Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT), former Vice President Joe Biden, former South Bend, Indiana Mayor Pete Buttigieg, and Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) participate in the Democratic presidential primary debate at Paris Las Vegas on February 19, 2020 in Las Vegas, Nevada
During his event, audience members jeered at CNN, and booed at each Trump mention of the ‘Fake News.’
Oddly enough, Trump lauded the performance of the Times, a paper he has said in the past was going out of business.
‘Now it’s doing very well,’ he said. ‘But you know what, some day we won’t be here, and when we’re gone those papers are in big trouble.’
Trump showed obvious interest in the debate during his rally, which was scheduled opposite the Democratic gathering. He said of former Vice President Joe Biden at the top of his remarks: ‘‘I hear he’s getting pounded tonight.’
He picked up attacks on MIke Bloomberg for his campaign spending and other tension points, but preferred to let Democrats do his dirty work. ‘‘I’m not going to criticize them tonight. Let them keep going,’ Trump said.
The debate made for dramatic television as Democratic contenders savaged Michael Bloomberg. A press area at Trump’s rally was half empty, with the national press fixated on the Las Vegas Democratic battle.
After the plane landed, Trump sped up the Las Vegas strip toward his Trump hotel property, where the president, protective agents, and some media members were to stay for the night.