Trump rips BuzzFeed and HuffPost amid layoffs

President Trump wrote Saturday that recent layoffs at two major news organizations were caused by a reaction to “Fake News and bad journalism,” as dozens of journalists found themselves without work.

In a tweet, the president predicted that “many” other layoffs would follow dozens of departures at HuffPost and BuzzFeed, which both announced sizable cuts to newsroom operations and creative personnel over the past week.

” ‘Ax falls quickly at BuzzFeed and Huffpost!’ Headline, New York Post. Fake News and bad journalism have caused a big downturn,” Trump wrote on Twitter. “Sadly, many others will follow. The people want the Truth!”

“Ax falls quickly at BuzzFeed and Huffpost!” Headline, New York Post. Fake News and bad journalism have caused a big downturn. Sadly, many others will follow. The people want the Truth!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 26, 2019

BuzzFeed announced this week that roughly 15 percent of its staffers would be laid off as the company attempts to reach a sustainable growth model, while HuffPost laid off around 20 journalists on Wednesday.{mosads}

Trump’s tweet came hours after it was reported that many of the fired journalists had received death threats from coordinated internet trolls, who often posted anti-Semitic messages on the feed of Jewish reporters.

BuzzFeed News Editor-in-Chief Ben Smith responded Saturday to the president’s tweet, calling it a “disgusting” reaction to journalists losing their jobs.

“What a disgusting thing to say about dozens of American workers who just lost their jobs,” he tweeted.

What a disgusting thing to say about dozens of American workers who just lost their jobs. https://t.co/hSnRD5NtpF

— Ben Smith (@BuzzFeedBen) January 26, 2019

HuffPost Editor-in-Chief Lydia Polgreen added that the roughly 1,000 people who were affected by layoffs at the two companies and others this week did not deserve “cruelty” from the president.

“1,000 journalists lost their jobs last week. Ordinary people with rent to pay, families to support, student loan bills coming due. They are workers like any other who do not deserve this cruelty,” she tweeted.

1,000 journalists lost their jobs last week. Ordinary people with rent to pay, families to support, student loan bills coming due. They are workers like any other who do not deserve this cruelty. https://t.co/WCtuZ6iRVx

— Lydia Polgreen (@lpolgreen) January 26, 2019