Summary:
Flip:
Trump criticizes the media for using anonymous sourceseven though he has used anonymous sources many times in the past to attack people he doesn’t like.
In 2013, Trump also relied on anonymous sources tweeting:
Sources inside @AGSchneiderman’s office are saying that they are very concerned with the allegations against their lightweight boss.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 13, 2013
An ‘extremely credible source’ has called my office & told me that @BarackObama applied to Occidental as a foreign student–think about it!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 6, 2012
An ‘extremely credible source’ has called my office and told me that @BarackObama‘s birth certificate is a fraud.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 6, 2012
An ‘extremely credible source’ has called my office and told me that @BarackObama bought his house with the help of Tony Rezko.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 6, 2012
A ‘confidential source’ has called my office and told me that @BarackObama has added over $6T to the new national debt & ruined US credit.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 7, 2012
Flop:
In 2017, he came out strongly against anonymous.
Remember, don’t believe “sources said” by the VERY dishonest media. If they don’t name the sources, the sources don’t exist.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 30, 2016
Flip:
A month after complaining about anonymous sources, Trump tweeted articles from Fox News which rely purely on anonymous sources.
Wow, @FoxNews just reporting big news. Source: "Official behind unmasking is high up. Known Intel official is responsible. Some unmasked….
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) April 1, 2017
.@FoxNews from multiple sources: "There was electronic surveillance of Trump, and people close to Trump. This is unprecedented." @FBI
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) April 3, 2017