MSNBC host Stephanie Ruhle brought on former CBS News anchor Dan Rather on Monday where they discussed President Donald Trump's most recent attacks on what the he calls "fake news."
Ruhle displayed a Monday tweet from Trump, describing the tweet as "taking a direct aim at American journalists this morning, yet again."
We should have a contest as to which of the Networks, plus CNN and not including Fox, is the most dishonest, corrupt and/or distorted in its political coverage of your favorite President (me). They are all bad. Winner to receive the FAKE NEWS TROPHY!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 27, 2017
"Wait, if the winner receives the 'fake news trophy,' does that mean that the president is currently holding it?" Ruhle shot back.
Immediately after the gibe, Ruhle introduced Rather, who she described as a "veteran American journalist and icon."
"What is your reaction to President Trump directly attacking, denigrating, American journalists?" she asked.
Rather called Trump's tweet "disappointing" and argued that with his attacks on the media, "over the long haul, over the arc of history ... he isn't going to look good."
In response, Ruhle asked what the role of the media is within the current administration, calling the relationship between the press and the White House "very contentious."
"Can the press even give– the president says the press won't ever give me a fair shake. But can they give him a fair shake when he calls us the 'fake news' day in and day out?" asked Ruhle.
"Well he doesn't make it any easier," Rather said. "But our job is to set that aside and, as far as humanly possible, just do our job, try to do quality journalism with integrity."
The former "60 Minutes" anchor is known as something of an expert on "fake news." Rather's career ended after he went to air with a story only two months before the 2004 election claiming that then-candidate George W. Bush went AWOL while serving in the Texas National Guard. It took bloggers less than a day to conclude the documents on which the story was based were faked.
Rather has never admitted the story was false, but seemed to vaguely acknowledge his own journalistic failings during subsequent interviews.
"Look, we make mistakes; I certainly have made my share," Rather said. "Journalism is not an exact science, it's a kind of crude art. Nobody can do it perfectly."