President Donald Trump ramped up his criticism of the media on Friday by tweeting that it was “the enemy of the American people.”
But fellow Twitter users weren’t having any of it.
They responded to Trump’s calling out of several major news organizations as “FAKE NEWS” by pointing out the multiple positive effects of their investigations.
Tweeters also remembered the sacrifices journalists killed while covering stories had made. And they highlighted the chilling similarities between Trump’s tweet and former President Richard Nixon’s comments on the press during the Watergate scandal.
Here’s a sample of the reactions:
This is Marie Colvin an American journalist who worked for the British newspaper The Sunday Times. She died in Syria. She was #NotTheEnemy pic.twitter.com/1XEoTsLKwd
— Resist (@AlchemistYoga) February 18, 2017
Woodward and Bernstein. Nixon called them the enemy. Things did not end well for Nixon. #NotTheEnemy pic.twitter.com/RDX3fBCyXZ
— Juan, P.E. #RESIST (@jrivera64) February 18, 2017
#NotTheEnemy Tim Hetherington and Chris Hondros. Killed while covering the front lines in Mistrata Libya. pic.twitter.com/k3HjrCwbQs
— WhiteRoseGeneration (@WhiteRoseGen) February 18, 2017
Christiane Amanpour
— Sesame Tweet (@SesameTweet3) February 18, 2017
👇🏻
Recipient of 2002: Edward R. Murrow Award for Distinguished Achievement in Broadcast Journalism#NotTheEnemy pic.twitter.com/Ody2CACmvW
The Press is #NotTheEnemy but it's clear Trump's unjustified attacks on the #FreePress are. #GasLighting #NarcissistProblems #TrumpPresser pic.twitter.com/tXhFhX7dnF
— A.Silver-MeMEs (@SilverAdie) February 18, 2017
This is the @Newseum's Journalists Memorial, listing the 2,291 individuals who have died around the world reporting the news #NotTheEnemy pic.twitter.com/FazzRTTQyL
— Phil Williams (@NC5PhilWilliams) February 18, 2017
Anna Politkovskaya known for standing up to Putin, her reports on Chechnya resulted in 20 criminal cases, assassinated. #NotTheEnemy pic.twitter.com/Dg5m7WiGJf
— Sasha Stone (@AwardsDaily) February 18, 2017
The press is #NotTheEnemy pic.twitter.com/cO7eq5IYyK
— Alexandra Cruz (@Alexandra_Cruz_) February 18, 2017
#NotTheEnemy Working to bring the news to the world, even in unimaginable dangers. https://t.co/T08AFZl7VI
— KimmieLou (@jmanandmegzmom) February 17, 2017
I have been reporting on stories that no one else would for 30 years, amplifying suppressed voices wherever possible.
— Victoria Brownworth (@VABVOX) February 18, 2017
I am #NotTheEnemy
Without debate, without criticism, no Administration and no country can succeed — and no republic can survive ~ JFK#FreePress #NotTheEnemy
— Re❄Twit (@twittingishard) February 18, 2017
James Foley, freelance journalist. Detained 44 days, Libya, 2011. Beheaded by ISIS, Syria, 2014. #NotTheEnemy pic.twitter.com/KbfYhbq6Xq
— Theresa Muir (@theresasmets) February 18, 2017
The @BostonGlobe exposed the Catholic Church's enabling of pedophile priests. How many children did this save from abuse? #NotTheEnemy
— Mariah Blake (@MariahCBlake) February 18, 2017
In the 1800s Nelly Bly posed as a mental patient to expose abuse at asylums, leading to important reforms. #NotTheEnemy
— Mariah Blake (@MariahCBlake) February 18, 2017
This media outlet freed slaves trapped in cages. #NotTheEnemy pic.twitter.com/5io3Wa9IeY
— Jennifer LaFleur (@j_la28) February 18, 2017
On Dec. 1972 tape, Nixon told Kissinger “The press is the enemy, the establishment is the enemy, the professors are the enemy." #NotTheEnemy https://t.co/UANLDhyCIq
— Bryan Hoag (@KYhoag) February 18, 2017
News media are #NotTheEnemy but the current so called "POTUS" is.
— Adrian (@cali_boi69) February 18, 2017
.@realDonaldTrump, You are the enemy. You are Bannon and Putin's puppet. Anyone who stands up to your corruption are heroes. #NotTheEnemy pic.twitter.com/TjIpKWU8Q5
— Susie B Anthony (@anthony_susie_b) February 18, 2017
Donald Trump is the enemy of the American people. He threatens our environment, human rights, & int'l relations. #mediabias #NotTheEnemy
— Rebecca (@readytofly11) February 18, 2017
#NotTheEnemy RT @pressfreedom 75% of journalists killed in 2016 covered war. 38% politics. https://t.co/3jdT5Cqfm2 pic.twitter.com/fCWFjJuMMn
— PEN America (@PENamerican) February 18, 2017
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