Skip to main content

Donate to Media Matters' Year-End Fundraiser Donate Arrow

  • Online media
  • Tariffs
  • Epstein
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
  • RSS
  • Take Action
  • Search
  • Donate

Media Matters for America

  • News & Analysis
  • Research & Studies
  • Audio & Video
  • Archives

Donate to Media Matters' Year-End Fundraiser Donate Arrow

Media Matters for America

  • Nav
  • Search
  • News & Analysis
  • Research & Studies
  • Audio & Video
  • Archives
  • Online media
  • Tariffs
  • Epstein
  • Take Action
  • Search
  • Donate
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
  • RSS
Donald Trump and Twitter

Ceci Freed / Media Matters | Gage Skidmore via Creative Commons

Mainstream media organizations repeat Trump’s lie justifying new tariffs

Other reports debunk Trump’s claim that governments of Argentina and Brazil devalued their currencies

Written by Zachary Pleat

Published 12/02/19 12:36 PM EST

President Donald Trump on Monday announced on Twitter new tariffs targeting steel and aluminum shipments from Argentina and Brazil, claiming the countries “have been presiding over a massive devaluation of their currencies.” Twitter accounts of NBC News, CBS News, PBS, and CNN uncritically repeated Trump’s claim, even though other reporting contradicts it.

Trump’s announcement has not yet turned into formal policy and reportedly surprised Brazil’s president. Just as Trump’s invocation of national security to justify earlier tariffs was bogus, his latest claim also appears contrary to the facts. According to Axios’ coverage of the announcement, both countries’ currencies “are freely traded and have been for years” and “have weakened because of political upheavals and dwindling growth forecasts in the two countries — not government intervention.” The Washington Post’s article on Trump’s announcement pointed to the latest biannual Treasury Department report on currency manipulation that “did not allege Brazil or Argentina had done anything improper in handling their currencies.”

Yet tweets from four broadcast and cable news networks passed on Trump’s lie justifying his action, continuing a pattern of major news outlets repeating Trump’s misinformation to their audiences:

Don't let right wing lies set the agenda. Donate now!

The Latest

  1. After the Brown University shooting, right-media baselessly attacked a Palestinian student as a suspect

    Research/Study 12/19/25 4:53 PM EST

  2. Tim Pool discusses Ben Shapiro's remarks about Tucker Carlson at TPUSA event : “Ben's wrong. He's completely wrong.”

    Video & Audio 12/19/25 2:34 PM EST

  3. Ben Shapiro lashes out at Tucker Carlson, Nick Fuentes, Candace Owens, and Megyn Kelly at Turning Point USA conference

    Video & Audio 12/19/25 2:34 PM EST

  4. MAGA media praise November inflation report that economists caution is a mirage

    Research/Study 12/19/25 12:57 PM EST

  5. Media Matters weekly newsletter, December 19

    Narrative/Timeline 12/19/25 12:50 PM EST

Pagination

  • Current page 1
  • …
  • Next page ››

In This Article

  • Donald Trump

    Donald-Trump-MMFA-Tag.png
  • Tariffs / Trade

Related

  1. Media Matters weekly newsletter, December 19

    Narrative/Timeline 12/19/25 12:50 PM EST

  2. The Trump administration’s chum cycle

    Article 12/18/25 11:39 AM EST

  3. Truth Social users and callers on right-wing media shows are mad about Trump's comments on Rob Reiner

    Research/Study 12/16/25 5:11 PM EST

Media Matters for America

Sign up for email updates
  • About
  • Contact
  • Corrections
  • Submissions
  • Jobs
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms & Conditions
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
  • RSS

© 2025 Media Matters for America

RSS