In the latest slew of “mini-stroke” hit pieces against the president, the once-conservative Drudge Report titled its headlining story, “Trump Denies Mini-Stroke Sent Him To Hospital.”
In the latest slew of "mini-stroke" hit pieces against the president, the once-conservative Drudge Report titled its headlining story, "Trump Denies Mini-Stroke Sent Him To Hospital."
The news aggregation site sourced a CNN video of President Donald Trump allegedly dragging his right leg while touring a North Carolina laboratory back in July.
Trump on Tuesday denied the leftist spin that he suffered "a series of mini-strokes" prompting an unscheduled visit to Walter Reed hospital in November 2019. Trump's physician, Dr. Sean Conley, even cleared his health record in a statement, affirming that Trump is "fit to execute the duties of the Presidency."
The president then called out Matt Drudge, who founded the self-titled Drudge Report, for not backing him during his 2016 presidential campaign and further diverging from conservative media.
"His Fake News report on Mini-Strokes is incorrect," Trump exposed the now-liberal news peddler. "Possibly thinking about himself, or the other party’s 'candidate.'"
Drudge didn’t support me in 2016, and I hear he doesn’t support me now. Maybe that’s why he is doing poorly. His Fake News report on Mini-Strokes is incorrect. Possibly thinking about himself, or the other party’s “candidate”. https://t.co/9FraoFqOKq
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump)
Numerous conservative commentators have called out Drudge for promoting anti-Trump stories during the impeachment hoax. And in July, Fox News host Tucker Carlson called Drudge "firmly a man of the progressive left," comparing the Drudge Report founder to The Daily Beast or "any other woke propaganda outlet posing as a news company."
In early April, Trump even noted the shift in coverage, tweeting that he "gave up on Drudge...long ago, as have many others. People are dropping off like flies!"
I gave up on Drudge (a really nice guy) long ago, as have many others. People are dropping off like flies! https://t.co/L77SXS2mE8
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump)
The Drudge Report this time promoted The New York Times left-wing reporter Michael Schmidt and his forthcoming book bashing Trump. Schmidt's smear campaign even begins on the front page, titled "Donald Trump v. The United States: Inside the Struggle to Stop a President."
CNN cited Schmidt and his book in an article this week as the journalist claims in the publication that Vice President Mike Pence is "on standby to take over the powers of the presidency temporarily if Trump had to undergo a procedure that would have required him to be anesthetized."
Winslow had tweeted in August: "One of the benefits of making videos that garner 5 million+ views is that you hear from a lot of people, including whistleblowers inside Trump administration."
"I've received three communications saying that during his term Trump has suffered a 'series' of 'mini-strokes,'" he falsely asserts.
#TrumpStroke trended on Twitter shortly after the piece's circulation as Winslow's post received renewed attention.
In a phone interview on "Fox & Friends" with hosts Steve Doocy, Ainsley Earhardt, and Brian Kilmeade, Trump insisted that the impromptu examination, which typically appears on his public schedule, was part of his yearly physical.
"It never ends! Now they are trying to say that your favorite President, me, went to Walter Reed Medical Center, having suffered a series of mini-strokes," Trump wrote on Twitter on Tuesday.
"Never happened to THIS candidate — FAKE NEWS. Perhaps they are referring to another candidate from another Party!" the president volleyed back at "Sleepy Joe," whom critics have repetitively questioned if he has dementia, especially following his confusion over whether he has been tested for cognitive decline or not.
It never ends! Now they are trying to say that your favorite President, me, went to Walter Reed Medical Center, having suffered a series of mini-strokes. Never happened to THIS candidate - FAKE NEWS. Perhaps they are referring to another candidate from another Party!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump)
Dan Bongino's Bongino Report has since recruited disaffected Drudge Report readers, offering a steadfast alternative that replaces Drudge's liberal drudgery and pledges to never abandon the conservative movement.
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“People make the mistake of viewing Matt Drudge through a political lens. But the truth is that Matt is motivated by page clicks and the ability to stay relevant, not politics," Matthew Lysiak, author of a new biography on Drudge, told The Post Millennial.
"Matt's decision to weaponize his website on behalf of Joe Biden is nothing more than a monetary calculation," Lysiak concluded. "Whether that pays off fiscally is yet to be determined, but Matt’s already won in one way, everyone is once again talking about Matt Drudge again. Just the way he wants it.”