Skip to main content
  • Online media
  • Iran
  • Epstein
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • YouTube
  • RSS
  • Take Action
  • Search
  • Donate

Media Matters for America

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

Media Matters for America

  • Nav
  • Search
  • News & Analysis
  • Research & Studies
  • Audio & Video
  • Archives
  • Online media
  • Iran
  • Epstein
  • Take Action
  • Search
  • Donate
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • 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:

The Latest

  1. Newsmax's Greg Kelly on Trump's since-removed Jesus post: “It's not blasphemous. If it were blasphemous, I wouldn't be showing it.”

    Video & Audio 04/15/26 9:58 AM EDT

  2. Newsmax's Greg Kelly on Trump's first impeachment: “Anybody who touched this case from the opposing side should be arrested, tried, and jailed”

    Video & Audio 04/15/26 9:04 AM EDT

  3. Jesse Watters says Joe Biden chose Kamala Harris as his running mate because “the Blacks were burning things down”

    Video & Audio 04/14/26 6:28 PM EDT

  4. Right-wing media accuse Trump of “blasphemy” over a post that appeared to depict Trump as Jesus

    Research/Study 04/14/26 5:47 PM EDT

  5. Sean Hannity says “an easier way” in Iran for Donald Trump is to “blow up Kharg Island”

    Video & Audio 04/14/26 5:30 PM EDT

Pagination

  • Previous page ‹‹
  • …
  • Current page 4
  • …
  • Next page ››

In This Article

  • Donald Trump

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

Related

  1. Tucker Carlson on Sean Hannity: “It does take a kind of cable news mentality to say of the pope, hey, you ever read the Bible? It's hilarious.”

    Video & Audio 04/16/26 11:53 AM EDT

  2. Tucker Carlson on Donald Trump: “Could this be the Antichrist? Well, who knows?”

    Video & Audio 04/16/26 10:25 AM EDT

  3. Greg Gutfeld gloats that Trump won't be removed from office if he’s found to be mentally incapacitated

    Video & Audio 04/15/26 6:36 PM EDT

Media Matters for America

Sign Up for Email Updates
  • About
  • Contact
  • Corrections
  • Submissions
  • Jobs
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms & Conditions
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • YouTube
  • RSS

© 2026 Media Matters for America

RSS