U.S. President Donald Trump had a quiet Sunday schedule, with just one afternoon event in the Blue Room. But by nighttime, he had fired off 99 tweets and retweets, going for the usual suspects — Democratic rivals, the impeachment inquiry and allegations of fake news by the mainstream media.
Trump’s Twitter barrage comes the day before House impeachment investigators will present their findings against the president to the Judiciary Committee. The White House has chosen not to participate in future Judiciary Committee hearings designed to outline evidence in support of Trump’s impeachment.
Here are some highlights from Trump’s day on social media.
The Inspector General report
In a brief, late afternoon tweet, Trump teased the release of the much-anticipated Inspector General report Monday, which coincides with House investigators’ presentation to the Judiciary Committee — a key step before Democrats finalize articles of impeachment.
The IG report will examine the FBI’s investigation of the Trump campaign, detailing the bureau’s decision to open an investigation into Trump-Russia ties and its conduct during that investigation.
“I.G. report out tomorrow. That will be the big story!” the president wrote Sunday.
The political opponents
Almost half of Trump’s tweets and retweets went after Democrats and detailed his perceived injustice of their pursuing an impeachment inquiry.
The rivals he name-dropped were (in order of most referenced to least): House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, House Intelligence Committee Chairman Adam Schiff, former Vice President Joe Biden and House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jerry Nadler. At least 36 of his tweets directly mentioned “impeachment,” “impeach” or “impeaching.”
Less than 48 hours before start of the Impeachment Hearing Hoax, on Monday, the No Due Process, Do Nothing Democrats are, believe it or not, changing the Impeachment Guidelines because the facts are not on their side,” the president wrote. “When you can’t win the game, change the rules!”
Less than 48 hours before start of the Impeachment Hearing Hoax, on Monday, the No Due Process, Do Nothing Democrats are, believe it or not, changing the Impeachment Guidelines because the facts are not on their side. When you can’t win the game, change the rules!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 8, 2019
The CNN problem
Trump targeted CNN in much of his media criticism, saying it is a “ratings disaster. Lost all credibility!”
The president retweeted other articles about CNN recently logging its lowest primetime ratings in three years. The network attracted an average of 643,000 viewers from 9 p.m. to 11 p.m. during the week of Nov. 25 to Dec. 1 — versus 2.2 million for Fox News Channel and 1.3 million for MSNBC, according to Nielsen Media Research figures.
Trump also took note of Republican Representative Devin Nunes’ $435 million defamation lawsuit against the network. The California congressman claimed CNN published a “demonstrably false hit piece” on him related to the Ukraine scandal.
.CNN is a ratings disaster. Lost all credibility! https://t.co/SKnLFNTGzU
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 8, 2019
The $530 Billion
Trump did get in a jab at the “Fake News Media” as a whole, saying he had a successful NATO trip but was “mocked” on his return home.
“I got NATO countries to pay 530 Billion Dollars a year more, and the U.S. less, and came home to a Fake News Media that mocked me. Didn’t think that was possible!,” he tweeted.
Trump has repeatedly lashed out at European allies for not paying what he considers to be their fair share, leaving the U.S. to bear the brunt of military or foreign aid spending. However, he has also taken credit for the increase in NATO dollars over the years.
I got NATO countries to pay 530 Billion Dollars a year more, and the U.S. less, and came home to a Fake News Media that mocked me. Didn’t think that was possible!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 8, 2019
The champions
The first tweet of the day was at 12:47 a.m. The president was congratulating a longtime supporter, Tito Ortiz, who had defeated opponent Alberto Del Rio at Combate Americas by rear naked choke in the first round.
“Congratulations to @TitoOrtiz on tonight’s huge WIN, a Great American Patriot!” Trump tweeted.
“Thank you very much Mr. President @realDonaldTrump that means the world to me!” Ortiz replied.
Later in the day, the president found time to retweet a congratulatory post for Bryce Mitchell, who became the second man in UFC history to score a twister submission finish.
The post included a video of Mitchell saying, “Donald Trump, I’m up here in D.C. If you need help whooping some politician, holler at me brother. I’ll do it for free.”
CONGRATS Bryce Mitchell (@ThugnastyMMA)! #UFCDC #UFCWashington cc: @realDonaldTrump
WAIT FOR IT…..pic.twitter.com/KPcInakfKa
— Dan Scavino (@DanScavino) December 8, 2019