President Trump took to Twitter on Saturday morning to complain about the media, citing underreported national debt statistics.
But watchdogs were quick to point out that the same numbers were mentioned on Fox News’ “Fox & Friends” shortly before the president’s tweet.
The media has not reported that the National Debt in my first month went down by $12 billion vs a $200 billion increase in Obama first mo.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) February 25, 2017
Great optimism for future of U.S. business, AND JOBS, with the DOW having an 11th straight record close. Big tax & regulation cuts coming!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) February 25, 2017
Media watchdogs wanted to make it clear that businessman former Republican presidential candidate Herman Cain mentioned the same information on air shortly before the president tweeted it, suggesting that the new president was watching his favorite morning show.
— Dorsey Shaw (@dorseyshaw) February 25, 2017
Trump has repeatedly called other news organizations “fake news,” while recently praising the Fox News morning show as “great.”
“Fox & Friends” co-hosts Steve Doocy, Ainsley Earhardt and Brian Kilmeade will travel to the White House for a sit-down interview with President Trump that will air on Tuesday, Feb. 28.
Check out some of the reaction on Twitter:
7:37am on @FoxAndFriends: Herman Cain cited these exact same stats. He said "the media's upset and ignoring important facts." https://t.co/AmqWNOMbQC
— Brian Stelter (@brianstelter) February 25, 2017
https://twitter.com/DJ84/status/835500398559526912
https://twitter.com/Swansong_Sue/status/835498885862797313
https://twitter.com/bjhalverson/status/835498030623256576
https://twitter.com/thrillis4/status/835481632698138626
I heard Herman Cain on Fox&Friends say exactly this a couple of hrs b4 – Trump takg credit 4 Obama fiscal policies & we all kno 2009 was GFC https://t.co/KpSpmMha2H
— Bryn (@bryn0017) February 25, 2017
https://twitter.com/darwinsearth/status/835493288484327424
I heard Herman Cain on Fox&Friends say exactly this a couple of hrs b4 – Trump takg credit 4 Obama fiscal policies & we all kno 2009 was GFC https://t.co/KpSpmMha2H
— Bryn (@bryn0017) February 25, 2017
Herman Cain says something on Fox & Friends. Then #Trump retweets it. And he says we should get our facts from him and not the media. https://t.co/j0JQUpdkqA
— Erik Childress (@EriktheMovieman) February 25, 2017
Tuesday’s interview will be President Trump’s first morning show appearance since his inauguration. “Fox & Friends” has been friendly to the Trump administration, while cable news rivals “Morning Joe” and “New Day” attack POTUS on a regular basis.