Donald Trump

'Modern Day Presidential': Trump Defends Social Media Use

Trump also vented at familiar foes: the cable television station CNN and MSNBC's "Morning Joe" co-hosts, Joe Scarborough and Mika Brzezinski

President Donald Trump took to Twitter Saturday to once again attack news outlets and claim that his use of social media is "modern day presidential."

In response to critics who say his use of social media is unprecedented, Trump fired back Saturday in a series of tweets throughout the day. He said the "fake and fraudulent news media is working hard to convince Republicans and others I should not use social media."

He continued: "But remember, I won the 2016 election with interviews, speeches and social media."

He added: "My use of social media is not Presidential - it’s MODERN DAY PRESIDENTIAL. Make America Great Again!"

In a series of tweets posted within about half an hour of one another earlier Saturday morning, Trump also continued his attack on cable television stations, labeling CNN "fake news" and saying NBC News executives push "Trump Hate!"

"I am extremely pleased to see that @CNN has finally been exposed as #FakeNews and garbage journalism. It's about time!" he tweeted. 

Trump has repeatedly attacked the cable network since before he was elected, often calling it "fake news."

The president also suggested former MSNBC host Greta Van Susteren was forced out of her job by NBC executives who are out to get him. 

"Word is that @Greta Van Susteren was let go by her out of control bosses at @NBC & @Comcast because she refused to go along w/ 'Trump hate!'" he tweeted.

It was announced on Thursday that Van Susteren and MSNBC parted ways. In a statement announcing the split, MSNBC said, in part, "Greta is a well-regarded television veteran and one of only a few broadcasters who can say they've hosted shows at all three major cable news networks. We are grateful to her and wish her the best."

Trump also used Twitter to comment on his voter commission, which is requesting sensitive information, including the last four digits of social security numbers, about every U.S. voter from Secretaries of State. He suggested without evidence that states who are refusing to comply may be purposefully hiding voter fraud information.

"Numerous states are refusing to give information to the very distinguished VOTER FRAUD PANEL," he wrote. "What are they trying to hide?"

Officials in 10 states and the District of Columbia said they would not comply at all with the request. Those states are California, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Mississippi, New Mexico, New York, South Dakota, Tennessee and Virginia.

Some Democratic officials have refused to comply with the data request, saying it invades privacy and is based on false claims of fraud.

Trump, who created the commission through executive order in May, lost the popular vote to Democrat Hillary Clinton but has alleged without evidence that up to 5 million people voted illegally.

Finally, Trump vented at familiar foes: MSNBC's "Morning Joe" co-hosts, Joe Scarborough and Mika Brzezinski. 

"Crazy Joe Scarborough and dumb as a rock Mika are not bad people, but their low rated show is dominated by their NBC bosses. Too bad!" he tweeted.

The controversary surrounding Trump's use of Twitter to mock others had taken a new turn on Thursday when he called the MSNBC hosts "Crazy Mika" and "Psycho Joe." He also wrote that Brzezinski was "bleeding badly from a facelift" when he saw the pair at his Mar-a-Lago estate in West Palm Beach, Florida, sparking a backlash from media personalities and politicians from across the political spectrum

In response, Brzezinski and Scarborough wrote in an op-ed in the Washington Post Friday: "We are both certain that the man is not mentally equipped to continue watching our show. It is disturbing that the president of the United States keeps up his unrelenting assault on women."

The president continued his relentless criticism of the media at the Freedom Rally at the Kennedy Center in Washington Saturday evening.

"The fake media try to stop us from going to the White House but I’m president and they’re not. We won, and they lost," Trump said to the crowd and he waited for rounds of applause.

NBCUniversal is the parent company of MSNBC and this site.

Copyright AP - Associated Press
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