President Trump struck back at Julia Ioffe on Monday after the GQ correspondent accused him of “radicalizing” more people than ISIS.
“That must be some kind of a sick woman,” said Trump, dismissing her in a wide-ranging interview with Fox News host Laura Ingraham. Trump then moved into a broader explanation of why he calls much of the media the “enemy of the people.”
Earlier that day, Ioffe precipitated a mini-media stir after making her remarks on CNN.
“I think this president — one of the things he really launched his presidential run on is talking about Islamic radicalization, and this president has radicalized so many more people than ISIS ever did,” she said. “The ways he talks. The way that he winks and nods to these groups.”
Ioffe, who was born in Moscow, also raised eyebrows by suggesting the United States had become less safe for journalists than Russia — a nation that is now believed to be responsible for the murder of dozens in recent years.
“I have to say, I feel less safe as a journalist in America these days than I ever did in Russia. A lot less safe,” she said.
I have to say, I feel less safe as a journalist in America these days than I ever did in Russia. A lot less safe.
— Julia Ioffe (@juliaioffe) October 29, 2018
The comments about ISIS were swiftly denounced by the Republican National Committee on Twitter and by many of the other panelists on the CNN set. Even before she left the air, Ioffe offered an apology, which she later repeated on Twitter.
“I clarified and apologized on air, but I’ll say it again here,” she said. “This has been a very emotional and painful time, but I absolutely should not have gone with such hyperbole on the air. I apologize.”
I clarified and apologized on air, but I’ll say it again here. This has been a very emotional and painful time, but I absolutely should not have gone with such hyperbole on the air. I apologize.
— Julia Ioffe (@juliaioffe) October 29, 2018
A rep for GQ declined to comment on the issue yesterday and did not immediately respond to request for comment on the Trump counterattack.