Trump slams U.S. media: ‘they’ve gone totally crazy’

Was Trump's phone call to Ukraine president congratulatory or more?

US President Donald Trump listens to reporter, Japan, June 29, 2019. (photo credit: JACQUELYN MARTIN / POOL / REUTERS)
US President Donald Trump listens to reporter, Japan, June 29, 2019.
(photo credit: JACQUELYN MARTIN / POOL / REUTERS)
US President Donald Trump took to Twitter Sunday to rail against the “Fake News Media,” which he accused of going beyond publishing inaccurate and unchecked facts, by also making up sources and protecting its “partners,” the Democrats.

It is so wrong, “ he said, “but they don’t even care anymore. They have gone totally CRAZY!!!!”

It seems Trump is responding to a story which broke recently about a July phone call he made to recently elected Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky

The Washington Post has been reporting potential legal issues concerning the phone call, which Kiev said in a July 25 official statement was a congratulatory phone call.

Some presidential telephone conversations with leaders of foreign countries are scrutinized by the intelligence community.

The Post reported that a complaint was filed with Michael Atkinson, Inspector General of the US intelligence community, detailing an episode in which Trump allegedly committed a “serious or flagrant problem, abuse or violation of the law.”

This led to the issue being tagged as of “high concern.”

Speculation rose among minority party members that perhaps Trump had been putting pressure on the neophyte Ukrainian president to investigate the business dealings of Hunter Biden, son of Joe Biden, currently one of the Democratic candidates running for the 2020 presidential election.

In May 2014, Hunter Biden was added to the board of directors of Burisma Holdings, the largest non-governmental gas producer in the Ukraine.

An 2014 trip to the the Eastern European country by his father concerning reducing Ukrainian gas dependency on Russia added to the rumor mill.  

Additionally, lawmakers are investigating whether there are any connections between the level of foreign aid Ukraine receives and alleged pressure being placed on the Kiev government to investigate Hunter Biden’s business interest or activity in gas production.

Gas is a vital concern to Ukraine and the whole EU as Russia, a leading gas producer in the region, offers gas to answer Europe’s considerable energy needs. After annexing Crimea, Moscow is cautious about its own financial and political interests concerning energy.  

Zelensky, a former stand-up comedian, rose to power following a successful television series in which he played the part of Ukrainian prime minister, which oddly parallels the television role of President Trump in The Apprentice as part of his pre-presidential experience.

Additionally, both entered their real life positions as leaders of countries with no prior political experience as elected officials.