Trump 'should start doing his' job: CNN responds to video Trump tweeted of him body slamming and punching 'CNN'

pulse

July 2, 2017 4:31 PM

"It is a sad day when the President of the United States encourages violence against reporters," the cable news network said in a statement.

CNN responded on Saturday to President Donald Trump's tweet featuring an edited video that appeared to show the president body slamming and punching the news network.

The original video is from 2007 and depicts Trump attacking WWE CEO Vince McMahon. The video was edited to feature an image of the CNN logo superimposed on McMahon's face to make it appear as though Trump was pummeling the network.

"It is a sad day when the President of the United States encourages violence against reporters," CNN said in a statement released after Trump's tweet went out. "Clearly, [deputy press secretary] Sarah Huckabee Sanders lied when she said the President had never done so. Instead of preparing for his first overseas trip, his first meeting with Vladimir Putin, dealing with North Korea and working on his healthcare bill, he is instead involved in juvenile behavior far below the dignity of his office. We will keep doing our jobs. He should start doing his."

Here is the Trump tweet CNN was responding to:

Trump frequently attacks news networks and publications he views as unfavorable to him. In recent days, Trump has focused his attacks on CNN, which he labels as "fake news" and "fraud news." Just in the last 30 days, the president has claimed the mainstream media is " target="_blank"fake news" 16 times.

CNN's communications team also sent out a separate reply to Trump's tweet with a quote that deputy White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders said on Thursday regarding Trump's feud with MSNBC host Mika Brzezinski.

On Thursday, Trump started the day by tweeting that Brzezinski was "bleeding badly from a face-lift" when she visited his Florida estate over the New Year. After a slew of Democratic and Republican lawmakers denounced the president's tweet, journalists asked Sanders if Trump's statements were creating a dangerous atmosphere.

"The President in no way form or fashion has ever promoted or encouraged violence," Sanders said. "If anything, quite the contrary. And he was simply pushing back and defending himself."

CNN tweeted that quote in response to Trump's video of him attacking the network logo:

pulse