Fake News Or White House Manipulation? Media Reports Draft Trump Plan For 100K Anti-Illegal Immigration Enforcement Force, Trump Denies
In yet another blow to the media’s credibility, the Associated Press ran with a story on Friday morning that the Trump administration had circulated a draft memo that would delegate 100,000 National Guard members for rounding up illegal immigrants.
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But the Associated Press story openly states that “requests to the White House and the Department of Homeland Security for comment and a status report on the proposal were not answered.”
So is the AP lying? Why didn’t the White House just disown the proposal immediately upon request for comment?
Nate Silver has a theory:
Because then they can decry the press for reporting "fake news". White House has used this tactic several times already. https://t.co/e5OqmD63Uy
— Nate Silver (@NateSilver538) February 17, 2017
If the AP reported this story without actually seeking comment, that’s fake news, obviously. But if the White House is manipulating the news – if the memo is real, and if the AP sought comment and was denied – then that’s egregious stuff. There’s no excuse for going silent with the media simply in order to castigate their credibility for issuing factually true reports. No wonder nobody knows what to believe anymore.
As far as the content of the memo, Trump went back and forth on the notion of a deportation force during the campaign. He’s been unclear on how he plans to expand enforcement against illegal immigration – just yesterday, he said he would use “heart” to deal with so-called DREAMers. This latest story just throws more confusion on top of policy chaos.
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If AP report is factually accurate, and WH refused comment only to reject the report later, that's on Trump, not AP. https://t.co/HKdC1KolTO
— Ben Shapiro (@benshapiro) February 17, 2017
The WH Press Sec & sr. officials knocked it down almost instantly after report was published. Sure seems like a pattern is developing here. https://t.co/NPgNZf9Esv
— Steve Kopack (@SteveKopack) February 17, 2017
Spicer: "I wish you guys had asked before you tweeted"(via pooler @Carrasquillo)
AP: "Requests….for comment….were not answered." pic.twitter.com/YDEl7NIHLS
— Steve Kopack (@SteveKopack) February 17, 2017
The conclusion is pretty inescapable that Trump is doing it on purpose to innoculate him when the media reports on real stories. 7/
— Leon Wolf (@LeonHWolf) February 17, 2017
One way the media should adapt is that if an admin source gives you info that turns out to be fake, they should be burned. 9/
— Leon Wolf (@LeonHWolf) February 17, 2017
1. Leak a totally bonkers pre-decision draft to media.
2. Decry as #FakeNews when it goes public.
3. Get attaboy from Putin.#provokatsiya
— John Schindler (@20committee) February 17, 2017
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