President Trump tweeted out his ire Tuesday evening in response to reports earlier in the day of his previously undisclosed face-to-face with Russian President Vladimir Putin at the G-20 summit, reacting with words like “sick” and “fake news,” while also saying the reported “meeting” was a dinner held for all G-20 leaders and spouses, arranged by German Chancellor Angela Merkel.
“Fake News story of secret dinner with Putin is ‘sick.’ All G 20 leaders, and spouses, were invited by the Chancellor of Germany. Press knew …” Trump tweeted.
Fake News story of secret dinner with Putin is “sick.” All G 20 leaders, and spouses, were invited by the Chancellor of Germany. Press knew!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 19, 2017
The president than sent a follow up tweet accusing news organizations of becoming “more dishonest,” and attempting to make his time at the summit look “sinister.”
The Fake News is becoming more and more dishonest! Even a dinner arranged for top 20 leaders in Germany is made to look sinister!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 19, 2017
CNN reported on Tuesday that Trump and Putin spoke one-on-one for an hour following a “couples only” dinner at the G-20 summit.
A White House official also said Tuesday evening that Trump’s second undisclosed conversation with Putin only occurred because first lady Melania Trump had been assigned a seat beside Putin at an official dinner.
Several journalists quickly expressed their exasperation with Trump accusing them of pushing the idea that his dinner with Putin was a “secret.”
Who said it was a secret dinner? Press knew about the dinner—not Trump’s undisclosed mtg with Putin and no U.S. aides or translator. “Sick”? https://t.co/bQZ41x4u1F
— Bradd Jaffy (@BraddJaffy) July 19, 2017
.@realDonaldTrump, who met w/Putin then didn’t admit it, falsely accuses media of reporting it as a “secret dinner” https://t.co/bWKKM7IG0t pic.twitter.com/PIWA0Qo00L
— Mark Berman (@markberman) July 19, 2017
