Fox News host Howard Kurtz on Thursday tore into President Donald Trump's calls for American media heads to be fired for news coverage the president doesn't like.
On Thursday morning, Trump tweeted that "Little Jeff" Zucker, the president of CNN, should be fired for the networks "hatred and extreme bias of me."
The hatred and extreme bias of me by @CNN has clouded their thinking and made them unable to function. But actually… https://t.co/IWek2b5bwr— Donald J. Trump (@Donald J. Trump) 1535626220.0
Kurtz said Trump "has every right" to criticize the media for its coverage of him, but when the president demands that the leaders of CNN and NBC get fired, he takes the "bully pulpit" a step too far.
WATCH: @JonScottFNC spoke with @HowardKurtz about President Trump calling out CNN and Watergate reporter Carl Berns… https://t.co/LjZ9VitmA7— America's Newsroom (@America's Newsroom) 1535642775.0
"The president of the United States should not be calling for the firing of two heads of private companies simply because he disagrees with and doesn’t like their media coverage of him," Kurtz said. "It’s using the bully pulpit in a way that feels like a personal grudge, especially in the case of Jeff Zucker, who had been on leave after surgery for serious heart problems."
Kurtz then called out the hypocrisy of Trump's supporters, who would never have been okay with President Barack Obama insisting Fox News fire Roger Ailes.
If President Obama had said, ‘Hey, Fox News, you should get rid of Roger Ailes, because I think their coverage of me is unfair, it would have been an explosion on the right.'
Trump's complaints about Zucker were part of a flurry of paranoid tweets the president posted in the pre-dawn hours on Thursday morning.
Twelve minutes after whining about CNN, Trump berated NBC and its chairman Andy Lack for "being the worst" regarding coverage he doesn't like. Trump suggested Lack should lose his job for "incompetence and much worse."
What’s going on at @CNN is happening, to different degrees, at other networks - with @NBCNews being the worst. The… https://t.co/Q0mGeyo4LH— Donald J. Trump (@Donald J. Trump) 1535626936.0
For the record - Lester Hold did not "fudge" Trump confessing that he fired FBI Director James Comey over "this Russia thing."
Trump admitted to Lester Holt last year that he fired James Comey because of “this Russia thing.” He can’t lie his… https://t.co/rf1Q0dFtIW— Keith Boykin (@Keith Boykin) 1535631538.0
Kurtz said there was "absolute not" any evidence Trump's interview with Holt was doctored.
"There's no credible allegation that NBC or Andy Lack or Lester Holt edited that interview in a misleading way," Lack said.
Less than ten minutes after posting about Lack and Holt, Trump tweeted again, this time saying the "truth doesn't matter" to the media and that those previously mentioned news outlets "only have their hatred & agenda." Trump reiterated his stance that the media is the "enemy of the people."
I just cannot state strongly enough how totally dishonest much of the Media is. Truth doesn’t matter to them, they… https://t.co/nixn3N4zJI— Donald J. Trump (@Donald J. Trump) 1535627518.0
Kurtz re-enforced his critique of Trump on Twitter following his interview.
I have to be consistent. If Obama had called for firing of Fox News president I would've been equally critical. https://t.co/myaYV04yRt— HowardKurtz (@HowardKurtz) 1535650269.0
Podcast: Trump Wants CNN's Jeff Zucker and NBC's Andy Lack fired; rips Carl Bernstein over Trump Tower story; was h… https://t.co/eZD9IxTvPe— HowardKurtz (@HowardKurtz) 1535650580.0
Many on Twitter agreed with Kurtz's assessment.
It's no secret that Trump "will try and silence anyone who criticizes him."
@HowardKurtz Trump will try and silence anyone who criticizes him. That’s why Trump and Putin get along so well.— joe (@joe) 1535650820.0
One person referred to Trump as a "thug."
Others are simply exhausted by Trump's constant dishonesty.
@HowardKurtz Who has more credibility in his pinky toe than Donald Trump has in his entire 390 lbs— J. Matthew Smith (@J. Matthew Smith) 1535591049.0
@HowardKurtz you should fact check his Canada trade tirade. Lots of errors and mistakes truths there I.e. #Mexico trade > #Canada— Kevin Korchinski (@Kevin Korchinski) 1535584377.0
@HowardKurtz Trump lies multiple times a day and Howie and State Run TV always defend him. SAD!!— joe (@joe) 1535583987.0
@HowardKurtz Trump is unhinged.— Movin' On (@Movin' On) 1535583980.0
@HowardKurtz Is the lie of the day about Hillary email Howard?— steve (@steve) 1535585853.0
@HowardKurtz So tiresome.— Joe Albanese 🌊🌊🌊 (@Joe Albanese 🌊🌊🌊) 1535584280.0
Tiresome indeed.