The New Republic reports an MS NOW journalist may have struck a nerve in the Trump administration after reporting that President Donald Trump ditched his new Qatari jet for security reasons.
MS NOW’s Carol Leonnig reported Wednesday evening that the president unexpectedly swapped his luxurious $400 million Qatari gift for his old Air Force One on his trip from the NATO summit in Turkey to the U.K. Leonnig and others argued this is likely due to concerns about the aircraft’s defense systems. She noted the new Air Force One didn’t have the necessary communications and defensive capabilities for “safe travel amid Iran hostilities.”
“Trump’s earlier choice to use the gifted Qatari jet as a primary presidential aircraft has been controversial because the gifted plane lacks key military defenses of the original Air Force One, including the ability to refuel mid-air and missile-defense systems, according to a law enforcement official briefed on its capabilities,” Leonnig reported.
Despite multiple outlets reporting the same information, however, White House communications director Steven Cheung singled out Leonnig’s post for attack.
“Carol Leonnig is a liar and this article is complete Fake News. She has no idea what she is talking about,” posted Cheung on X. “She says the White House declined to comment. Not true. We gave comment to The New York Times and many other outlets. Carol is not a real journalist. A complete fraud.”
But the New Republic points out that Cheung never actually disputed any of Leonnig’s reporting in the post. He merely labeled it “fake news” without “offering up any response.”
“And if his issue is with Leonning not attributing his comment, all he said to The New York Times on a similar story was “the new Air Force One is a state-of-the-art aircraft that has been fitted with high-level security protocols that ensure the safety of the president and his staff.”
Critics on X took turns agreeing with Cheung or smashing his name-calling.
“Cheung isn’t disputing the facts. Just attacking,” pointed out former NPR News reporter Pam Fessler on X.
“Secret Service advised Trump not to fly home from NATO Summit on Qatar-gifted Air Force One,” said award-winning journalist and Just the News Founder John Solomon on X.
Other, less professional hecklers, blasted Cheung for making an empty shot and running away.
“Mr Neck Ham is a liar and so is Trump,” said one X user. “But Leonnig is a fine reporter that tells the truth, and reports facts.”
Others were taking the side of indifference with perhaps a subtle jab:
“You know what. Who cares?” demanded yet another critic on X. “If [Trump] wants to fly around on a plane that can’t protect him – so be it.”