President Trump Calls Out ABC News Over Brian Ross’ #FakeNews Report

On Friday, ABC News published a “bombshell” report, revealing that Michael Flynn contacted Russian officials during the campaign. As in prior to the election. As it turns out, that’s not true. Trump already won the election. Flynn’s contact was all part of the transition prep. There’s nothing weird about that.

ABC News issued a “clarification.”

Clarification: During a live Special Report, ABC News reported that a confidant of Lt. Gen. Michael Flynn was prepared to testify that then-candidate Donald Trump instructed Flynn to contact Russian officials during the campaign. That source later clarified that during the campaign, Trump assigned Flynn and a small circle of other senior advisers to find ways to repair relations with Russia and other hot spots. It was shortly after the election, that President-elect Trump directed Flynn to contact Russian officials on topics that included working jointly against ISIS.

Convenient, huh? Unfortunately, the #FakeNews narrative was already out there. I bet some people still believe it.

Trying to save its reputation, ABC News suspended Brian Ross over that “serious error.” The network claims that the reporting conveyed “had not been fully vetted” through their editorial standard process. (I know, I know. They have one of those? Who knew?!)

.@ABC News statement on Michael Flynn report: https://t.co/sd9TeFiiLQ pic.twitter.com/UtHFHeuwcM

— ABC News (@ABC) December 2, 2017

My job is to hold people accountable and that's why I agree with being held accountable myself.

— Brian Ross (@BrianRoss) December 3, 2017

President Trump has responded to all of this on Twitter. Finally. When something like this happens, I constantly find myself waiting for him to tweet something. I’m conditioned.

Congratulations to @ABC News for suspending Brian Ross for his horrendously inaccurate and dishonest report on the Russia, Russia, Russia Witch Hunt. More Networks and “papers” should do the same with their Fake News!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 3, 2017

People who lost money when the Stock Market went down 350 points based on the False and Dishonest reporting of Brian Ross of @ABC News (he has been suspended), should consider hiring a lawyer and suing ABC for the damages this bad reporting has caused – many millions of dollars!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 3, 2017

I heard Michelle Malkin say that his tweet was probably made in jest, but the point still stands. #FakeNews has consequences.