CNN’s Jim Acosta smears Kayleigh McEnany out of context in viral tweet

Anti-Trump reporter Jim Acosta was blasted on social media over a tweet that quoted White House Press Secretary Kayleigh McEnany out of context.

See Also: President Trump replaces campaign manager Brad Parscale with Bill Stepien, according to the NYT

During Thursday's briefing, McEnany reiterated President Trump's strong stance on wanting children to be going back to school in the fall amid a fiery debate about how educators can prevent the spread of the coronavirus outbreak.

"The science should not stand in the way of this, but as Dr. Scott Atlas said -- I thought this was a good quote, 'Of course, we can do it. Everyone else in the Western world, our peer nations are doing it. We are the outlier here,'" McEnany said, quoting the former Stanford Medical Center neurology chief.

"The science is very clear on this. For example, you look at the JAMA pediatric study of 46 pediatric hospitals in North America that said the risk of critical illness from COVID is far less for children than the seasonal flu. The science is on our side here. We encourage localities and states to just simply follow the science. Open our schools," she continued.

See Also: 'The View co-host Meghan McCain argues that 'any other Republican candidate would have done this very well'

However, Acosta tweeted about what McEnany said by suggesting she was anti-science.

"The White House Press Secretary on Trump's push to reopen schools: 'The science should not stand in the way of this,'" the liberal reporter tweeted.

The White House Press Secretary on Trump's push to reopen schools: "The science should not stand in the way of this."

— Jim Acosta (@Acosta) July 16, 2020

Acosta later added, "McEnany went on to say 'the science is on our side here.'"

However, his first tweet went on to get 30,000 retweets while his follow-up tweet that provided the much-needed context received less than 700. Among those who shared the out-of-context week were Democratic lawmakers Rep. Jerry Nadler and Rep. David Cicilline, as well as several of his CNN colleagues.

CNN's chief White House correspondent was hit with major backlash.

See Also: The women of “The View” broke out into an inteWhoopi Goldberg assumed that Meghan McCain might want to take a pass on talking about the resignation of Tucker Carlson

"Classic stuff here. Acosta tweets half of one quote without context & gets nearly 20,000 retweets. Had plenty of room to add the full context in the original comment by McEnany stating “the science is on our side here.” Waits 10 minutes before writing a second tweet, gets 450 RTs," The Hill media reporter Joe Concha wrote.

Classic stuff here. Acosta tweets half of one quote without context & gets nearly 20,000 retweets. Had plenty of room to add the full context in the original comment by McEnany stating “the science is on our side here.” Waits 10 minutes before writing a second tweet, gets 450 RTs https://t.co/XgbN4EH6ES

— Joe Concha (@JoeConchaTV) July 16, 2020

"This isn’t journalism. It’s a dishonest fragment used to whip up animosity, rather than inform," Daily Caller editor Vince Coglianese tweeted.

The dishonest reads on this quote are so stupid & predictable.

She’s so obviously saying that the science supports reopening, so it won’t be an impediment to getting kids back to school.

Second later: “The science is on our side here.” https://t.co/O9sVUkcT00

— Vince Coglianese (@VinceCoglianese) July 16, 2020

"Why are you misleading your followers?" Reagan Battalion asked

What @PressSec actually said:

"The science should not stand in the way of this...the science is very clear on this...the science is on our side here. We encourage localities & states to just simply follow the science. Open our schools."

Why are you misleading your followers? https://t.co/ZnOnGKmQwK

— Reagan Battalion (@ReaganBattalion) July 16, 2020

Even Acosta's own colleague Jake Tapper weighed in on the distorted quote that was being shared, urging everyone to "read the ENTIRE McEnany comment."

"I'm not taking a position on the matter but be fair," the CNN anchor wrote.

Folks read the ENTIRE McEnany comment about "the science should not stand in the way" of opening schools. She's arguing that the science is on the side of those who want to open them, she cites a JAMA study. I'm not taking a position on the matter but be fair.

— Jake Tapper (@jaketapper) July 16, 2020

He’s right, here’s what she actually said:

MS. MCENANY: You know, the President has said unmistakably that he wants schools to open. And I was just in the Oval talking to him about that. And when he says open, he means open in full — kids being able to attend each and every day at their school.

The science should not stand in the way of this. And as Dr. Scott Atlas said — I thought this was a good quote — “Of course, we can [do it]. Everyone else in the…Western world, our peer nations are doing it. We are the outlier here.”

The science is very clear on this, that — you know, for instance, you look at the JAMA Pediatrics study of 46 pediatric hospitals in North America that said the risk of critical illness from COVID is far less for children than that of seasonal flu.

The science is on our side here, and we encourage for localities and states to just simply follow the science, open our schools. It’s very damaging to our children: There is a lack of reporting of abuse; there’s mental depressions that are not addressed; suicidal ideations that are not addressed when students are not in school. Our schools are extremely important, they’re essential, and they must reopen.

Now, lest I leave you with a false impression, here’s the second tweet from Tapper right after the one above:

Folks read the ENTIRE McEnany comment about "the science should not stand in the way" of opening schools. She's arguing that the science is on the side of those who want to open them, she cites a JAMA study. I'm not taking a position on the matter but be fair.

— Jake Tapper (@jaketapper) July 16, 2020

Acosta wasn't the only journalist who shared the incomplete quote from the White House press secretary. CBS White House correspondent Weijia Jiang, NBC News reporter Josh Lederman, The Guardian and The Washington Post all similarly omitted her actual support of the science.

See Also: House Speaker Nancy Pelosi says ‘no’ regrets after initial downplaying of coronavirus earlier this year

McEnany blasted the slanted reporting.

"Case Study in Media Bias," McEnany wrote. "I said: 'The science is very clear on this...the science is on our side here. We encourage our localities & states to just simply follow the science. Open our schools.' But leave it to the media to deceptively suggest I was making the opposite point!"

Case Study in Media Bias:

I said: “The science is very clear on this...the science is on our side here. We encourage our localities & states to just simply follow the science. Open our schools.”

But leave it to the media to deceptively suggest I was making the opposite point! https://t.co/vlxk3zRsgh

— Kayleigh McEnany (@PressSec) July 16, 2020