In response to stay-at-home orders to curb the pandemic that's killed nearly 250 thousand Americans, President Donald Trump and his allies have frequently accused Democrats of wanting to end all holidays and social gatherings, be it due to fear or an exercise in control.
Late last month, Trump said at a rally that then-Democratic nominee Joe Biden's presidency would mean "no kids in school, no graduations, no weddings, no Thanksgiving, no Christmas, and no Fourth of July together."
With the holiday season nearing, health experts, local leaders, and President-elect Biden have warned against holding crowded holiday gatherings, risking further infections of the highly contagious virus.
In an interview with key virus task force member Dr. Anthony Fauci, CNN's Jake Tapper asked him about a possible vaccine for the virus that would allow at least a partial return to normalcy.
Though there have been promising developments in the pursuit of the vaccine, Fauci warned that it would be a months before one is mass-produced.
Regarding that timeline Tapper said:
"So Christmas is probably not gonna be possible."
Watch below.
CNN's Jake Tapper this morning: "Christmas is probably not gonna be possible." pic.twitter.com/z56ifNCr3G
— Steve Guest (@SteveGuest) November 15, 2020
Though Tapper meant that a vaccine by Christmas would probably not be possible, a Fox News article misrepresented his words to imply that Tapper said Christmas itself would be canceled.
CNN's liberal 'journalist' Jake Tapper: 'Christmas is probably not gonna be possible' this yearhttps://t.co/wl7vIK8qJA
— Fox News (@FoxNews) November 16, 2020
It wasn't long before CNN's famously snarky public relations account stepped in to set the record straight.
This article has clearly twisted @jaketapper's words to mislead people. You can read the full exchange below. And please stop lying, @FoxNews. Santa is watching. 🎅👀 pic.twitter.com/spCtEq7quK
— CNN Communications (@CNNPR) November 16, 2020
CNN's team responded with a transcript of Tapper's exchange with Fauci that gave the fuller context, further warning Fox News that "Santa is watching."
People applauded the network's clapback.
I love @CNNPR https://t.co/Ef0lp8h4GY
— Korie D. Rose (@koriedrose) November 16, 2020
He sees you when you're scheming, he knows when you're a fake, he knows when you've been lying lots so just stop for goodness sake. Att: @FoxNews ⬇️ https://t.co/4VhjATgSxQ
— Matt Dornic (@mdornic) November 16, 2020
It's the " santa is watching 🎅👀" for me skdkkdkfk 😂 https://t.co/hTbXGGrSWr
— Bea 🌺 (@RocketShip726) November 16, 2020
bloop https://t.co/CDRW27NNVP
— Candace S. Coleman (@candacescoleman) November 16, 2020
Lmaooo “please stop lying @foxnews. Santa is watching 🎅👀 ."
CNN is hilarious 😂🔥 https://t.co/YqIgeQOB2u
— Quawzilla (@quawzilla) November 16, 2020
Tapper responded to the misleading article as well.
To any Fox folks taken in by this nonsense, unjournalistic, click-bait headline, hi! 👋🏻 please check out the auction I'm holding to build specially-designed homes for severely wounded veterans — with generous donations from @greggutfeld and @BretBaier !!https://t.co/vHzJ4CXShj https://t.co/VtfmHeKLNu
— Jake Tapper (@jaketapper) November 16, 2020
The "Christmas is cancelled" canard let some know the holiday season was near, noting the yearly "war on Christmas" coverage in conservative media outlets.
I see the war on Christmas came early this year! https://t.co/oAvfN3O3wf
— Jonah Harris (@honahharris) November 16, 2020
Ah yes, my favorite time of year. It's War on Christmas season, folks! https://t.co/IdsiCYEvzN
— Nick Pecora (@NickPecora_) November 16, 2020
The only "war" on Christmas is the one being waged by the people who haven't taken COVID19 seriously and are prompting more lockdowns to try to slow this out of control pandemic.
But, as the experts on this annual @FoxNews tradition, welcome to the front lines, @jaketapper. https://t.co/6zmGqop3At
— American Atheists (@AmericanAtheist) November 16, 2020
Finally! The war on Christmas is here! https://t.co/2sTJxO6BpR
— Gina Vergel (@ginavergel7) November 16, 2020
Christmas, as usual, is scheduled for December 25th.
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