Celebrities react to Donald Trump’s CNN body slam tweet

LOS ANGELES — US President Donald Trump caused controversy on Sunday (July 2) when he shared a video on Twitter of himself physically attacking someone meant to represent CNN. The video shows Mr Trump taking down and punching a man with the cable news channel’s logo superimposed over his face.

Mr Trump accompanied the video with a caption, simply saying, “#FraudNewsNetwork” and “#FNN”.

Sunday’s tweet is just the latest in the president’s online crusade against CNN, MSNBC, and other media outlets. Trump has been feuding with “Morning Joe” hosts Joe Scarborough and Mika Brzezinski all week, referring to the pair as “low IQ crazy”, “dumb as a rock”, and “psycho” on multiple occasions.

But while the president has defended his social media etiquette, celebrities and other prominent figures remain critical.

J K Rowling and Chelsea Clinton referenced the country’s forefathers in their critiques of the controversial clip.

Ava DuVernay took the opportunity to highlight what she perceives as hypocrisy between how Mr Trump and former President Barack Obama are treated.

Other famous Twitter users like Andy Cohen, Mia Farrow, and Kal Penn simply couldn’t believe what the president had tweeted.

Not to be outdone, musicians like Zendaya, John Legend, and Lauren Jauregui from Fifth Harmony didn’t even try to hide their disdain for the president.

CNN responded to Trump’s tweet with a statement: “It is a sad day when the president of the United States encourages violence against reporters,” a network spokesperson said. “Instead of preparing for his overseas trip, his first meeting with Vladimir Putin, ?dealing with North Korea and working on his health care bill, he is involved in juvenile behaviour far below the dignity of his office. We will keep doing our jobs. He should start doing his.” VARIETY.COM/REUTERS