Author Rips Host ON CNN Show: ‘You’re Why People Can’t Stand the Media, You’re Full of Sanctimony’
Author Michael Wolff wrote two best-sellers about the Trump administration and Trump shocked his advisers by inviting him to Mar-a-Lago to interview him for Wolff’s third book about Trump. Wolff’s books have been critical of Trump but also of the media and Trump’s advisers. Many in the media accused Wolff of using them to get close to Trump as Brian Stelter did on CNN recently but Wolff turned the tables and indicted CNN and Stelter instead.
Stelter said to Wolff Sunday: “You called me ridiculous. And you bashed the media. And then the next day Trump called you and you guys chatted for half an hour and you were all friendly.”
WOLFF: I don’t want you to think that what I said at that point was in any way inauthentic. I think the media has done a terrible job on this. I think you yourself, you know, well, you’re a nice guy, you know, you’re full of sanctimony. You know, you become part of one of the parts of the problem of the media. You know, you come on here and you — and you have a monopoly on truth. You know, you know exactly how things are supposed to be done. You know, you are why one of the reasons people can’t stand the media. I’m sorry.
STELTER: You’re cracking me up.
WOLFF: It’s your fault.
STELTER: So, what should I do differently, Michael?
WOLFF: You know, don’t talk so much, listen more. You know, people have genuine problems with the media. The media doesn’t get the story right. The media exists in its own bubble.
STELTER: That’s true. I agree. Yeah. Yeah.
WOLFF: You know, you — you know, you got to stop — I mean, that last segment that I just had to listen to. Of all the people saying the same old stuff. [Perry Bacon saying the media had to oppose Trump fervently, and Charlotte Alter saying “the right-wing media apparatus is almost specifically designed to present an alternate reality.”]
Also, you’re incredibly repetitive. It’s week after week. I mean, you’re the flip side of Donald Trump, you know, fake news. And you say virtuous news. You know, there’s a problem.
STELTER: No, we just figure out what is real. Yes, I’m listening.
WOLFF: I mean, we — well, figuring out — yes, figuring out what is real is not so — it’s not so easy. And, you know, most people don’t want to talk — turn to Brian Stelter to tell us what’s real. I’m sorry.
STELTER: Well, then why’d you bother coming on CNN a few times this week?
WOLFF: You know, I’m a — I’m a book salesman.
STELTER: Michael, I love talking to you. I’m grateful you came on. And I guess let’s do it again in four years. Thanks so much.
Taking down @BrianStelter. @MichaelWolffNYC: “While you’re a nice guy, you’re full of sanctimony. You become one of the parts of the problem of the media. You come on here and you have a monopoly on truth….You are one of the reasons people can’t stand the media.” pic.twitter.com/pyrLpqgTmB
— Brent Baker (@BrentHBaker) July 18, 2021
Author Michael Wolff slams Stelter: You're 'full of sanctimony,' You're why 'people can't stand the media.'
— NewsBusters (@newsbusters) July 19, 2021
Stelter fake laughs, 'you're cracking me up.' https://t.co/HhINIBjcJd