Searches for definition of ‘hogwash’ skyrocket after Brennan op-ed

Searches on Merriam-Webster’s website for the word “hogwash” spiked by 15,500 percent on Thursday after former CIA Director John Brennan used the word to dismiss President Trump’s claims that no one from his campaign team colluded with Russians.

“Hogwash (‘nonsense, balderdash’) spiked dramatically in lookups on August 16th, 2018, after former CIA Director John Brennan used the word in an editorial in The New York Times, dismissively applied to arguments put forth by President Trump,” Merriam-Webster tweeted.

Brennan wrote in a Thursday op-ed that “Mr. Trump’s claims of no collusion are, in a word, hogwash.”

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Brennan wrote that he is aware of many “highly suspicious dalliances of some American citizens with people affiliated with the Russian intelligence services.”

“The only questions that remain are whether the collusion that took place constituted criminally liable conspiracy, whether obstruction of justice occurred to cover up any collusion or conspiracy, and how many members of ‘Trump Incorporated’ attempted to defraud the government by laundering and concealing the movement of money into their pockets,” Brennan wrote.

The op-ed came one day after Trump revoked Brennan’s security clearance.

Brennan has frequently criticized Trump and defended special counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation into alleged collusion between the Trump campaign and Russia.

“Mr. Trump clearly has become more desperate to protect himself and those close to him, which is why he made the politically motivated decision to revoke my security clearance in an attempt to scare into silence others who might dare to challenge him,” Brennan wrote in the Times.

Merriam-Webster has appeared to troll the president before on its official Twitter account.

After Trump originally said “no” when asked if Russia interfered in the election, press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders tried to clarify that Trump was “saying ‘no’ to answering questions” from reporters.

The dictionary then tweeted out the definitions of “yes” and “no.” 

Merriam-Webster also appeared to mock Trump for using the wrong word in a tweet bragging about his “ability to write.”