Even Fox News found Trump's claim he knows 'nothing about WikiLeaks' pretty dubious


President Trump's Thursday assertion that he "know[s] nothing about WikiLeaks," which he mentioned more than 100 times during the final month of his 2016 campaign, raised eyebrows on MSNBC and Fox News alike.
The president's claim received plenty of pushback on MSNBC, which aired a montage of Trump repeatedly praising WikiLeaks during the 2016 election. Morning Joe on Friday also mocked Trump by highlighting several other things Trump has said he knows "nothing about," including Ku Klux Klan leader David Duke.
But it wasn't just MSNBC that called Trump out. Fox News' Shepard Smith did the same thing Thursday, airing his own montage to refute Trump's claim. "It would be hard to forget, but we have recordings, so here," Smith said, setting up a 40-second video package of various WikiLeaks praise from Trump in 2016.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Fox continued the fact check with a news report from White House correspondent John Roberts. In a segment on Bret Baier's show, Fox aired another, slightly different montage, which included Trump saying in October 2016 that "WikiLeaks is amazing." "During the 2016 campaign, the president had plenty to say about WikiLeaks," Roberts observed. Should Trump catch this segment on his DVR, Roberts may need to look out for some angry tweeting in the near future. Brendan Morrow
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Brendan worked as a culture writer at The Week from 2018 to 2023, covering the entertainment industry, including film reviews, television recaps, awards season, the box office, major movie franchises and Hollywood gossip. He has written about film and television for outlets including Bloody Disgusting, Showbiz Cheat Sheet, Heavy and The Celebrity Cafe.
-
5 darkly funny cartoons about Israel blocking aid to Gaza
Cartoons Artists take on forcing famine, avoiding aid, and more
-
The easy elegance of Cap Ferret
The Week Recommends 'Elemental and otherworldly' destination is loved for its natural beauty
-
Volodymyr Zelenskyy: flirting with authoritarianism?
Talking Point Ukraine's president is facing first major domestic unrest since the Russian invasion, over plans to water down the country's anti-corruption agencies
-
Trump revives K-12 Presidential Fitness Test
Speed Read The Obama administration phased the test out in 2012, replacing it with a program focused on overall health rather than standardized benchmarks
-
El Salvador scraps term limits, boosting Nayib Bukele
Speed Read New constitutional changes will allow presidents to seek reelection an indefinite number of times
-
Trump assigns tariffs, delays all except on Canada
Speed Read A 35% tariff on many Canadian goods has gone into effect
-
Harris rules out run for California governor
Speed Read The 2024 Democratic presidential nominee ended months of speculation about her plans for the contest
-
Trump sets new tariff rates as deadline nears
Speed Read New tariff rates for South Korea, Brazil and India announced
-
Ghislaine Maxwell: angling for a Trump pardon
Talking Point Convicted sex trafficker's testimony could shed new light on president's links to Jeffrey Epstein
-
Senate confirms Trump loyalist Bove to top court
Speed Read The president's former criminal defense lawyer was narrowly approved to earn a lifetime seat
-
Ghislaine Maxwell offers testimony for immunity
Speed Read The convicted sex trafficker offered to testify to Congress about her relationship with late boyfriend Jeffrey Epstein