Friday, February 10, 2017

What did Donald Trump do today?

He attacked the New York Times for failing to report something that happened after the paper was printed.

At 8:35 A.M. today, Trump tweeted that "The failing @nytimes does major FAKE NEWS China story saying 'Mr.Xi has not spoken to Mr. Trump since Nov.14.' We spoke at length yesterday!"

The print version was accurate at the time the early Friday edition was published. The Times' online edition was updated accurately after Trump spoke with China's president Xi Jinping.

Trump's particular sensitivity on this subject may have to do with the fact that Xi had refused to speak with him until he acknowledged that the "one China" policy was still in effect. Although essential to diplomatic and trade relations with China, endorsing the "one China" stance meant that Trump was effectively backing down without a fight from his earlier bluster on China.

So what?

  • It's bad if a president is so anxious to find fault with the media that he forgets how printed newspapers work.
  • Trump's diplomatic struggles are not the New York Times' fault.