‘Kim Jong Un is smarter and would make a better President than Sleepy Joe Biden’
A liberal journalist, who posted an anti-Trump quote on Twitter, that he claimed was said by the president, has admitted that he made the whole thing up after it went viral.
According to News Thud, the fake quote came from prominent journalist Ian Bremmer, who suggested that President Trump said North Korean leader Kim Jong-un would make a better president than Joe Biden.
The fabricated statement, by foreign policy expert and TIME magazine contributor Bremmer, has drawn mounting backlash from both conservatives and liberals, who are furious over Bremmer’s false claim.
The since-deleted tweet by Bremmer read:
“President Donald Trump in Tokyo: ‘Kim Jong Un is smarter and would make a better president than Sleepy Joe Biden.’”
It was retweeted almost a thousand times before being taken down, with screenshots of the tweet since going viral across social media.
UPDATE: @ianbremmer has now admitted that he fabricated this viral Trump quote. And yet it is being shared by journalists and congressmen as if it is real. pic.twitter.com/QgNd9DnN8g
— Jerry Dunleavy (@JerryDunleavy) May 26, 2019
Anti-Trump Twitter went into overdrive over the fabricated quote of the president praising North Korea’s dictator Kim Jong-un.
The fake quote drew widespread real outrage from the president’s critics, including Rep. Ted Lieu and other members of the anti-Trump “resistance.”
The fictitious remark sounded almost on par with a recent tweet by Trump, who on Saturday complimented the North Korean state news agency’s insult towards Democratic presidential hopeful Joe Biden, saying that he “smiled” when the outlet called Biden “a low IQ individual.”
Still, none of the journalists and pundits – CNN political commentator Ana Navarro, former Clinton campaign staffer Zac Petkanas, ex-CIA Emily Brandwin and others among them – double-checked the quote before crying foul over it.
Bremmer’s remarks quickly drew condemnation from his colleagues and critics alike, who pointed out that his false reporting has done nothing to repair the media’s tarnished image.
Did Trump actually say that?
— Chris Hayes (@chrislhayes) May 26, 2019
Just the height of irresponsibility.
— Kevin M. Kruse (@KevinMKruse) May 26, 2019
No. @ianbremmer is literally #fakenews
— Randy Bryce (@IronStache) May 26, 2019
He’s now saying he purposefully made up the quote to prove how easy it to spread fake info on twitter or some such nonsense. Very irresponsible given the size and composition of his audience.
— Sean Ehrlich (@SeanDEhrlich) May 26, 2019
It appears @ianbremmer made up a Trump quote, presented it as real, watched as it spread through Twitter, and then, when called on his fabrication, defended himself by saying the quote was ‘plausible.’ Now, he seems to be enjoying the brouhaha…
— Byron York (@ByronYork) May 26, 2019
Never trust a single thing @ianbremmer says. I made that mistake today. I apologize for it. Good on @JerryDunleavy for sticking it to Bremmer. https://t.co/UtW0aWPdvP
— Elliott Hamilton (@ElliottRHams) May 26, 2019
Posting a fake Trump quote portraying it to be real is deservedly backfiring tremendously on Ian Bremmer. https://t.co/5IcqDD6Z9N
— Siraj Hashmi (@SirajAHashmi) May 26, 2019
Ian – I found some Nancy Pelosi videos on Facebook you’re going to absolutely love
— Peter J. Hasson (@peterjhasson) May 26, 2019
Very cool for @ianbremmer to spread a fake quote and have resistance people pounce on it. pic.twitter.com/DzB1e6DoZP
— Julio Rosas (@Julio_Rosas11) May 26, 2019
And… the RT count on @ananavarro‘s tweet is at 4,770. Also note that a former CIA hand fell for the @ianbremmer prank without thinking that if this were true then other Journos there would confirm it and/or there would be audio/video if it. pic.twitter.com/Vb9Bi5W1oN
— Yossi Gestetner (@YossiGestetner) May 26, 2019
According to RT, Navarro took to Twitter to post a lengthy rebuke, seizing on the opportunity to bash Trump for cozying up to a “cruel dictator.”
Rep. Ted Lieu (D-Ca) likewise did not miss out on a chance to remind his followers of Trump’s misdeeds as interpreted by the #Resistance narrative: “kowtowing” to Russian President Vladimir Putin, “obstructing justice” in the Mueller probe, controversial Charlottesville remarks, and a zero-tolerance migration policy – it was all there.
Democrat Rep. @TedLieu (CA) appears to have pushed the fabricated quote about Trump
Will he apologize? pic.twitter.com/piLB3LJDsW
— Ryan Saavedra (@RealSaavedra) May 26, 2019
While Twitter was focused on ravaging Trump for singing fresh praise of Kim, Bremmer came clean.
When actually asked if the quote was real, he responded with “It’s plausible,” and framed it as “a comment on the state of media and the twitterverse today.”
He further added that the quote was “objectively completely ludicrous” but might have seemed plausible to those who think uncritically.
“Especially on Twitter, where people automatically support whatever political position they have.”
When you put out a fake Trump quote without any indication you were making it up, and then blame the readers for not realizing you were making the quote up.
Nice work, @ianbremmer. You’re only helping the cause of people like Trump who want to label everything “fake news.” pic.twitter.com/BYYKmNmDNU
— Josh Jordan (@NumbersMuncher) May 26, 2019
The various commentators were not pleased with having completely proved Bremmer’s point, with many demanding an apology and accusing him of giving ammunition for Trump’s crusade against “fake news.”
Fantastic social experiment by @ianbremmer
Shows that members of Congress like @tedlieu will share fabricated quotes and never fact check or confirm.
Democrats are all Alex Jones! pic.twitter.com/SAsdXtZ2DE
— Mike Cernovich (@Cernovich) May 26, 2019
While Bremmer’s stunt left some demanding that Twitter removes his blue tick, others, like conservative political commentator Mike Cernovich, lauded the researcher for exposing the modern-day media’s lack of diligence and uncritical acceptance of statements that validate their views.
.@ianbremmer now admits that he MADE UP “a completely ludicrous quote,” attributing it to me. This is what’s going on in the age of Fake News. People think they can say anything and get away with it. Really, the libel laws should be changed to hold Fake News Media accountable!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 27, 2019
Bremmer has since deleted not only the original fake quote but also his own explanations and responses amid the growing backlash.