CNN has denounced Donald Trump’s “juvenile behaviour” after the US president tweeted a video depicting him appearing to punch a man with the organisation’s logo over his face.
In an official statement which follows Trump’s mocked-up clip on Sunday from a wrestling event alongside the hashtags “#FraudNewsCNN” and “#FNN”, the US news company said he was encouraging violence against reporters.
“It’s a sad day when the President of the United States encourages violence against reporters,” CNN said.
The statement continued: “He is involved in juvenile behaviour far below the dignity of his office.
“We will continue to keep doing our jobs, he should start doing his.”
Trump has come under fire in recent days from both Republicans and Democrats for launching personal attacks on the hosts of an MSNBC show, Morning Joe.
In a series of scathing tweets mocking the presenters’ personal appearance, he wrote:
I heard poorly rated @Morning_Joe speaks badly of me (don’t watch anymore). Then how come low I.Q. Crazy Mika, along with Psycho Joe, came..
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 29, 2017
…to Mar-a-Lago 3 nights in a row around New Year’s Eve, and insisted on joining me. She was bleeding badly from a face-lift. I said no!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 29, 2017
Crazy Joe Scarborough and dumb as a rock Mika are not bad people, but their low rated show is dominated by their NBC bosses. Too bad!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 1, 2017
True to form, Trump defended his tweeting as “modern day presidential” on Sunday via Twitter. Where else.
My use of social media is not Presidential – it’s MODERN DAY PRESIDENTIAL. Make America Great Again!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 1, 2017