Day After Controversial Tweets, NYT Adds Opinion to News Story
Saagar Enjeti /
The New York Times featured an editorial comment in a Thursday tweet preceding news that Egypt will allow the Russian military access to its bases.
This is embarrassing: Egypt, a longtime US ally, is giving Russian military use of its air bases and airspace https://t.co/jnQTq0mXoO
— New York Times World (@nytimesworld) November 30, 2017
The comment “this is embarrassing” preceded the news tweet despite appearing nowhere in the story.
The New York Times did not respond to The Daily Caller News Foundation’s request for comment regarding the editorial comment.
The storied news organization faced intense criticism Wednesday after using its editorial board Twitter account to openly lobby against a tax bill championed by Republicans moving its way through the Senate.
The account changed its biography on Twitter to signal its political use, and then began encouraging readers to call U.S. senators and leave messages urging them not to vote for the tax bill.
This morning, the Times editorial board is tweeting here to urge the Senate to reject a tax bill that hurts the middle class & the nation's fiscal health. #thetaxbillhurts
— NYT Opinion (@nytopinion) November 29, 2017
"Senator Susan Collins of Maine has correctly noted that any temporary tax cuts for the middle class would be more than offset by the higher cost of health insurance — a good reason for her to vote against the bill." https://t.co/bHYJcMTMjU pic.twitter.com/NgfvgnOypL
— NYT Opinion (@nytopinion) November 29, 2017
The Times’ decision also faced criticism from President Donald Trump and the Republican National Committee for appearing to act as a political organization.
The Failing @nytimes, the pipe organ for the Democrat Party, has become a virtual lobbyist for them with regard to our massive Tax Cut Bill. They are wrong so often that now I know we have a winner!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 30, 2017
Contact The New York Times, 844-698-6397, and let them know how you feel about their liberal bias. https://t.co/2K9IXMQPOz
— GOP (@GOP) November 29, 2017
The Times defended the decision to politically lobby, saying, “The New York Times Editorial Board shared its opinions on the tax reform bill yesterday from the nytopinion Twitter handle; @nytopinion is separate from the nytimes newsroom.”
.@realDonaldTrump The New York Times Editorial Board shared its opinions on the tax reform bill yesterday from the @nytopinion Twitter handle; @nytopinion is separate from the @nytimes newsroom. pic.twitter.com/7R3Cz3xO1m
— The New York Times Communications (@NYTimesPR) November 30, 2017
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This article’s headline has been updated since publication.