CNN called out Fox NewsTucker Carlson on Friday for lying that the network had removed its COVID-19 tracker after President Joe Biden had taken office.
On Thursdays episode of Tucker Carlson Tonight, Carlson trotted out the right-wing talking point that the media only really reported on the coronavirus pandemic as a way to criticize former President Donald Trump when he claimed:
It is Joe Bidens first day in office, and you know what that means? CNN can finally take that COVID death ticker off the screen. Theres no reason for it now. Its not like you can blame Joe Biden for some Chinese virus that escaped from a lab in Wuhan. Huh. It wouldnt be fair. Come on now. CNN dutifully removed it this morning. COVID deaths? Settle down, America. Its just a bad flu season.
Watch Carlsons comments below and read a transcript of his falsehood on the Fox News website here.
CNN criticized Carlson for saying it had dutifully removed the COVID-19 tracking graphic from our coverage now that President Biden has taken office.
That is false, the networks communications team responded on Twitter.
We look forward to his correction tonight, it added, alongside screenshots of the ticker appearing on screen multiple times throughout Thursday.
Last night on his program @TuckerCarlson again lied to his audience about CNN, stating wed dutifully removed the COVID-19 tracking graphic from our coverage now that President Biden has taken office. That is false. We look forward to his correction tonight. #factsfirstpic.twitter.com/MRotv8Quzb
— CNN Communications (@CNNPR) January 22, 2021
In a second tweet, CNN said the same false claim was spread after the 2020 election and it was a lie then too.
The same claim was made right after the election. It was a lie then too. https://t.co/AXy7wEcZcD
— CNN Communications (@CNNPR) January 22, 2021
CNNs fact-checking reporter Daniel Dale also countered Carlsons false claim.
Its entirely false, he tweeted.
CNN is still running the tracker, especially during the Covid segments, Dale added. It ran the tracker alongside Bidens own speech yesterday.
Carlson’s claim that CNN got rid of the Covid tracker because Biden is now in charge is — like previous versions of the claim — entirely false.
CNN is still running the tracker, especially during Covid segments. It ran the tracker alongside Biden’s own speech yesterday. pic.twitter.com/3YqEmZNBg2
— Daniel Dale (@ddale8) January 22, 2021
