Trump’s ‘Fake News’ Awards Tweet Leads To Internet Outrage

President Donald Trump announced Tuesday he would give out awards to “fake news media” for report he perceives to be “most dishonest and corrupt.” After a year of feuding with media since becoming president, it appears the war of words will find a new twist in an award ceremony Jan. 8.

Trump’s disdain for the mainstream media, or what he likes to call the bearer of “fake news,” is no secret. His slew of unflattering words was usually directed in the general direction of the New York Times, CNN, Washington Post, and NBC, among others. The idea of the award was first mentioned by Trump in November, when he tweeted, “We should have a contest as to which of the Networks, plus CNN and not including Fox, is the most dishonest, corrupt and/or distorted in its political coverage of your favorite President (me). They are all bad. Winner to receive the FAKE NEWS TROPHY!’

Something has to be said about the timing of his latest tweet on the subject, as his fake news awards ceremony is slated to be organized in the wake of the Golden Globe Award ceremony taking place on Sunday. He would not be mistaken in anticipating a few potshots hurled in his direction at the weekend ceremony.

But that is still a few days away, and soon after Trump posted his tweet targeting the media, reactions on Twitter began pouring in. Some people were clearly outraged.

Some others, as expected, were quick to offer their support to the president, using arguments that have very little to do with facts.

There were also those, like comedian Sarah Silverman, who had a few sage words for the president.

It is not known whether Trump actually plans to carry out the unusual gesture, but an email sent out to his campaign supporters a week ago indicates the president just might do exactly that. To help him award this fake news trophy, he enlisted the help of his supporters, asking them to send in their nominations, Washington Times reported.

The email read, “Americans are sick and tired of being lied to, insulted, and treated with outright condescension. That’s why President Trump is crowning the 2017 KING OF FAKE NEWS before the end of the year.”

Trump’s distrust of the media — except outlets, like Fox News, which say good things about him — has only increased since reports surfaced that his White House Chief of Staff John Kelly was leaving the administration. He was quick to shoot down such reports, saying there was no veracity to the story.

"The Fake News is at it again, this time trying to hurt one of the finest people I know, General John Kelly, by saying he will soon be fired. This story is totally made up by the dishonest media. The Chief is doing a FANTASTIC job for me and, more importantly, for the USA!" he tweeted in October.

But Trump is no stranger to disseminating fake news himself. rather infamously, his retweeting a piece of anti-Muslim fake news in late November led to the postponement of his visit to the United Kingdom, originally scheduled for January.