MSNBC host Rachel Maddow caused a media stir Tuesday when she sent out a tweet revealing that her show had obtained President Trump's tax returns and she was going to unveil them later that night.
CNN called Maddow's announcement of the "major scoop" an "epic buildup."
But the wind got somewhat taken out of Maddow's sails with a subsequent tweet less than an hour later clarifying that the tax returns in question were from 2005.
BREAKING: We've got Trump tax returns. Tonight, 9pm ET. MSNBC.
(Seriously).
— Rachel Maddow MSNBC (@maddow) March 14, 2017
What we've got is from 2005... the President's 1040 form... details to come tonight 9PM ET, MSNBC.
— Rachel Maddow MSNBC (@maddow) March 15, 2017
Maddow's clarification sparked accusations suggesting she had knowingly overhyped the situation.
it completely feeds into narrative that liberal media hurts America to say one thing & deliver much less
— David Amoyal (@DavidAmoyal) March 15, 2017
To make matters worse for Maddow, the White House beat her to the punch on her own scoop and released figures from the 2005 returns, as well as a declaration stating that it is "totally illegal to steal and publish tax returns."
What happened next was a complete lambasting of Maddow on Twitter, as users mocked what one Washington Post reporter characterized as a "nothingburger" of an announcement.
TRUMP PAID HIGHER TAX RATE [25%] THAN MSNBC
COMCAST [24%]
MUCH HIGHER THAN OBAMA [19%]
Thank you Rachel Maddow! #TrumpTaxes
— Charlie Kirk (@charliekirk11) March 15, 2017
The way Maddow delivered the news on her show also earned her some mockery.
chip and joanna will literally be done renovating the house by the time she stops talking
— Kate Bennett (@KateBennett_DC) March 15, 2017
https://twitter.com/Olivianuzzi/status/841818176434405377?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
Donald Trump Jr. even sent out a tweet referencing Maddow.
Thank you Rachel Maddow for proving to your #Trump hating followers how successful @realDonaldTrump is & that he paid $40mm in taxes! #Taxes
— Donald Trump Jr. (@DonaldJTrumpJr) March 15, 2017
There were suggestions that Maddow had been "used" by Trump.
I'm thinking President @realDonaldTrump used Rachel @Maddow to reveal his own taxes, here's why: https://t.co/RDL3Snu9XD #TaxReturns
— Michael Smerconish (@smerconish) March 15, 2017
Even Maddow's own fanbase was critical.
DAMMNIT RACHEL!!! @maddow Girl I thought you had the juice. pic.twitter.com/5CwWk6Cptp
— Melissa Dunson (@melissa_dunson) March 15, 2017
I love #rachelmaddow and I get the need to report what's to report (even if it's nothing) but the build up was a misstep.
— Mikey Wood (@MisterMikeyWood) March 15, 2017
CNN's Van Jones called it a "good night" for Donald Trump.
https://twitter.com/TEN_GOP/status/841871489758560256?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw