Trump supporters are livid after Shep Smith blasts Trump, demanding he come clean about Russia allegations.
The Independent reports that “Trump’s supporters have launched a scathing attack” on Fox News anchor Shep Smith after he blasted Trump for his “treatment of reporters and his refusal to answer questions” regarding Russia during his first solo press conference since his inauguration.
Defending CNN correspondent Jim Acosta, Smith accused Trump of “repeating ridiculous, throwaway lines that are not true at all.”
Acosta has attempted to ask Trump about his attacks on CNN calling it fake news, and Trump responded in a mocking tone “I’m changing it from fake news, though,” adding “very fake news now.”
“Jim Acosta over there from CNN, an accomplished reporter, a guy I’ve never met, but a good reporter,” Smith began. “I mean, treating him like he’s – I’m not even going to use the word. I’m not going to give Twitter the love it needs. He keeps repeating ridiculous throwaway lines that are not true at all and sort of avoiding this issue of Russia as if we are some kind of fools for asking the question.”
Turning to face the camera directly, he continued: “Really? Your opposition was hacked, and the Russians were responsible for it, and your people were on the phone with Russia on the same day it was happening, and we’re fools for asking the questions? No, sir. We are not fools for asking this question, and we demand to know the answer to this question.”
“You owe this to the American people,” he added, concluding by stating: “Your supporters will support you either way. If your people were on the phone, what were they saying? We have a right to know. We absolutely do. And that you call us fake news and put us down like children for asking these questions on behalf of the American people is inconsequential. The people deserve that answer at the very least.”
Wow watch Shepard Smith’s reaction to Trump’s “fake news” claims at press conference pic.twitter.com/s0DC9GRul9
— Jon Passantino (@passantino) February 16, 2017
The Independent reports that shortly thereafter Trump supporters “took to Twitter to vent their fury at Mr Smith’s comments, accusing him of breaking with the channel’s editorial line.”
“Many threatened to boycott Fox News, historically one of few mainstream media sources to have backed Mr Trump during his election campaign,” the Independent added, showing some examples of angry tweets.
Well, I don't want to say this but, Today will be the last time I watch @ShepNewsTeam Shepard Smith! He should go to CNBC or CNN! Not FOX!
— Broke & Hungry (@BrokeHungry) February 16, 2017
BOYCOTT Shepard Smith on FOX News. FOX News, please dump Shepard Smith. He's ruining your newscast. Signed, "We The People". PLEASE RETWEET!
— B. Chappy #MAGA (@ChiappiJr) February 16, 2017
Inversely, there were those who appeared to be defending Smith, such as one individual who tweeted that if Fox News viewers switched to any other network, “they will be forced to encounter the truth.”
If Fox "News" viewers boycott Fox over Shepard Smith and watch actual news on ANY other source, they will be forced to encounter the truth.
— Dawn Howard ❄ (@realdawnhoward) February 17, 2017
Another individual tweeted: “And we’re the snowflakes, these people can’t even handle one of their own politely criticising [sic] their leader.“
The next day, Smith retweeted a post from TV Newswer linking to an article reporting that “Before you begin to wonder whether Shepard Smith‘s absence from Fox News today has to do with his scathing review of Pres. Trump’s news conference yesterday, we talked with Fox News and they tell us Smith already had a pre-planned day off.”
The article added that Smith would be taking Monday off as well, noting that Monday is Presidents’ Day.
.@ShepNewsTeam already planned to take today off. https://t.co/WxFrWJA0xZ pic.twitter.com/PfRoZqcLlk
— TVNewser (@tvnewser) February 17, 2017
We wish him well on his time off and hope to see more reporting like his on Fox News moving forward as Trump’s approval ratings continue to fall to historic lows amid the chaos surrounding his first month in office.
As NBC News reports,
Indeed, perhaps the best way to describe Trump’s first month is with three Cs — conflict, chaos, and constant. The conflict, of course, has involved the courts, the news media, Mexico, Nordstrom, and even Australia. The chaos? Try the travel ban, “alternative facts,” and the very slow start to Trump’s government. And constant describes how unrelenting the news and Trump’s presence has been over the past month. Sure, there have been good moments (the Gorsuch pick, the meetings with business and union leaders). And, yes, all new White Houses have their struggles. But we’ve never, ever seen a first month like this.
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