Mike Huckabee jumped into the accelerating war of words between President Donald Trump and CNN on Tuesday, ridiculing what he says was the cable news network’s explosion over a "pretty funny" tweet by the commander in chief.
"CNN is in a froth of righteous indignation over President Trump’s pretty funny tweet that they and other non-Fox news outlets should compete to see who can come up with the most ridiculous anti-Trump story to win a ‘Fake News’ trophy,” the former Arkansas governor wrote on his Facebook page.
Huckabee’s salvo came a day after Trump, who has continually accused CNN of reporting "fake news" about him, took to Twitter and wrote:
CNN senior media correspondent Brian Stelter responded: "The president is once again in one of these modes where he is assaulting the free press … I think it's astonishing for any leader, any public official … If it's positive for him it's real, if it's negative for him it's fake," CNN senior media correspondent Brian Stelter responded, IJR.com reports.
Other CNN hosts also criticized Trump.
Huckabee, a two-time GOP presidential candidate and longtime Trump supporter, said of CNN’s indignation: "CNN huffed that it’s their job to report true, factual news … Yes, it is! I’m glad they’ve finally realized that."
He then referenced the recent "piegate" controversy involving his daughter, White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders, who released a picture of a Thanksgiving pie she said she baked – but who some in the media believe was a stock photo.
"If they could just spread the word around [about reporting factual news], maybe I wouldn’t have to have my Thanksgiving dinner spoiled by seeing my daughter assaulted with idiotic questions about whether she is now, or has ever been, a genuine baker of pecan pies," Huckabee said.