Politico reporter Marc Caputo faced backlash on Twitter after he mocked President Donald Trump's supporters for heckling CNN White House correspondent Jim Acosta, calling the president's supporters "garbage" and saying they didn't have any teeth.
Acosta checked in with CNN host Wolf Blitzer Tuesday night to report on the environment of the Trump supporters at the upcoming rally in Tampa Bay, Florida on Tuesday evening. He said they were chanting things like "CNN sucks" and "fake news." He would later post videos on Twitter showing the crowd chanting, prompting reporters and Democratic figures to come to his defense and condemn the crowd for verbally attacking the media.
"Just a sample of the sad scene we faced at the Trump rally in Tampa. I’m very worried that the hostility whipped up by Trump and some in conservative media will result in somebody getting hurt. We should not treat our fellow Americans this way. The press is not the enemy," Acosta tweeted.
Just a sample of the sad scene we faced at the Trump rally in Tampa. I’m very worried that the hostility whipped up by Trump and some in conservative media will result in somebody getting hurt. We should not treat our fellow Americans this way. The press is not the enemy. pic.twitter.com/IhSRw5Ui3R
— Jim Acosta (@Acosta) August 1, 2018
In a now-deleted tweet, Caputo commented on the video, saying, "If you put everyone's mouths together in this video, you'd get a full set of teeth."
In another deleted tweet, he responded to a tweet castigating his mockery of Trump supporters. "Oh no! I made fun of garbage people jeering at another person as they falsely accused him of lying and flipped him off. Someone fetch a fainting couch," Caputo wrote.
Caputo's remarks drew backlash from Republicans in the media, who said his disparaging remarks were "gross" and "elitist."
This is so gross and this kind of statement is what so many in the middle of the country think the media thinks of them. @politico should hold their reporters to a higher standard. https://t.co/LEDZBKq96g
— Meghan McCain (@MeghanMcCain) August 1, 2018
https://twitter.com/JamesHasson20/status/1024636407061590016
During this election cycle @realDonaldTrump voters have been called crazies, deplorable, racists and now you have a reporter saying this below…its pretty sad. At the end of the day, we were motivated, we voted and we won and are still winning because the #MAGA agenda is working! https://t.co/ZyRqLHGHn1
— PARIS (@PARISDENNARD) August 1, 2018
https://twitter.com/redsteeze/status/1024612432520642560
https://twitter.com/chadfelixg/status/1024614833310900225
Media: Why does America hate us?
Also Media: America is toothless. https://t.co/sTaP4gWtEk— Benny (@bennyjohnson) August 1, 2018
Well. pic.twitter.com/qiX85tAbKP
— Tiana Lowe (@TianaTheFirst) August 1, 2018
After taking screenshots and deleting his tweets, Caputo sent out a series of tweets apologizing for his remarks, clarifying that his comments were only aimed at those "jeering and swearing" at Acosta.
"I need to apologize for tweeting caustic remarks after seeing a reporter berated & abused. Hate begets hate. My comments referred ONLY to those jeering and swearing at the man, not a broad swath of people. But the fault is mine for causing confusion and feeding anger," Caputo tweeted Wednesday.
I need to apologize for tweeting caustic remarks after seeing a reporter berated & abused. Hate begets hate. My comments referred ONLY to those jeering and swearing at the man, not a broad swath of people. But the fault is mine for causing confusion and feeding anger. 1/3
— Marc Caputo (@MarcACaputo) August 1, 2018
"In the age of social media, where divisiveness serves no decent purpose, these flippant comments on my part only made things worse and contributed to a cycle of rage that I should not have inflamed further. So I'm sorry," Caputo continued.
In the age of social media, where divisiveness serves no decent purpose, these flippant comments on my part only made things worse and contributed to a cycle of rage that I should not have inflamed further. So I'm sorry. 2/3
— Marc Caputo (@MarcACaputo) August 1, 2018