AP deletes tweet on Trump’s ‘animals’ comment: ‘It wasn’t made clear he was speaking’ about MS-13

The Associated Press has deleted a Wednesday tweet regarding President Trump’s characterization of MS-13 gang members who enter the U.S. illegally as “animals” after the news agency said “it wasn’t made clear that he was speaking after a comment about gang members.”

“AP has deleted a tweet from late Wednesday on Trump’s ‘animals’ comment about immigrants because it wasn’t made clear that he was speaking after a comment about gang members,” reads the tweet to the AP’s 12.8 million followers on Thursday morning.

AP has deleted a tweet from late Wednesday on Trump’s “animals” comment about immigrants because it wasn’t made clear that he was speaking after a comment about gang members.

— The Associated Press (@AP) May 17, 2018

{mosads}The deletion comes the same morning that White House counselor Kellyanne Conway said the president is owed an apology from any organization that misreported or criticized him for calling undocumented immigrants “animals” when he was specifically referring to MS-13 gang members, considered by some as the most dangerous in the country.

The firestorm began after a White House meeting on Wednesday where Fresno County, Calif., Sheriff Margaret Mims was speaking about California “sanctuary city” laws.

“There could be an MS-13 gang member I know about, if they don’t reach a certain threshold, I cannot tell ICE about them,” Mims said to the president.

“You wouldn’t believe how bad these people are. These aren’t people, these are animals, and we’re taking them out of the country at a level and at a rate that’s never happened before,” Trump responded.

White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders told reporters on Thursday that the context of the comment was clear.

Trump lashed out at undocumented immigrants during a White House meeting, calling those trying to breach the country’s borders “animals” https://t.co/aQNeu29T6e pic.twitter.com/ogrFKaWyDZ

— The New York Times (@nytimes) May 16, 2018

“These aren’t people. These are animals.” President Trump used the harsh rhetoric to describe some undocumented immigrants during a California “sanctuary state” roundtable. https://t.co/mOwXilRtwE pic.twitter.com/eYC6XhtR57

— CBS News (@CBSNews) May 16, 2018

“We’re taking people out of the country — you wouldn’t believe how bad these people are. These aren’t people. These are animals.”

President Trump says the U.S. has “the dumbest laws on immigration in the world” during a roundtable on sanctuary cities. pic.twitter.com/SHRtgwQvYj

— NBC News (@NBCNews) May 16, 2018

Pres. Trump refers to some who cross the border illegally as ‘animals,’ not people. “You wouldn’t believe how bad these people are.”

The president was holding a roundtable discussion with California elected officials who oppose the state’s sanctuary law. https://t.co/YfrZxC89CB pic.twitter.com/uvhKp9vwrO

— ABC News (@ABC) May 17, 2018

“We’re taking people out of the country. You wouldn’t believe how bad these people are. These aren’t people — these are animals.” During a meeting with public officials who oppose California’s sanctuary policies, Pres. Trump criticized US immigration laws https://t.co/2KcrIhMnyR pic.twitter.com/SsmCdaofHb

— CNN (@CNN) May 17, 2018

CNN sent a clarification tweet on Thursday afternoon, stating the MS-13 context was provided in the story itself.

As reported in the article above, Trump’s remarks late Wednesday were in response to comments about members of MS-13 and other undocumented immigrants who are deported for committing crimes.

— CNN (@CNN) May 17, 2018