CNN has blasted Donald Trump Jr. for sharing a disputed online report which claims that the news network staged a scene with protesters in London after the recent attack.
CNN has blasted Donald Trump Jr. for sharing a disputed online report which claims that the news network staged a scene with protesters in London after the recent terror attack.
On Monday, CNN Communications tweeted in response to Trump’s post, “This is absolute nonsense. You are misleading your followers. CNN didn't stage a demonstration. Those are the facts.”
Earlier that day, the president’s son had posted about a linked article from the right-wing Gateway Pundit website which states that “a video released a day after the Islamic terror attacks in London show a CNN crew staging a scene with Muslims holding signs saying ‘ISIS Will Lose.’”
The site also includes a video which it alleges shows this so-called “photo-op” being arranged by reporters.
Trump Jr. shared the story and took the opportunity to criticize CNN, writing, “Not at all surprising at this point. They create the narrative they want to push & sell it at all costs. #fakenews.”
However, Mashable has since debunked the story with a piece titled, “No, CNN did not stage a protest after the London attack.”
It features the tweets of right-wing pundits who perpetuated the story along with CNN’s repeated response, “This is nonsense. Police let demonstrators through the cordon to show their signs. CNN along with other media simply filmed them doing so.”
The network’s Brian Stelter also explained in a series of messages that “far-right twitterers are misleading folks about this video.”
After summarizing CNN’s explanation, he also said multiple outlets including “CNN, BBC, AP ‘simply filmed them doing so.’”