Trump's retweet storm: A Pizzagate conspiracy theorist, a train hitting CNN, and accusations of fascism

Jessica Estepa | USA TODAY

Show Caption Hide Caption Trump retweets, deletes meme of train hitting CNN Just hours after condemning the hate groups at the Charlottesville rally, President Trump retweeted a far-right activist, a train hitting CNN, and a man calling him a fascist. Nathan Rousseau Smith (@fantasticmrnate) reports.

President Trump started off Tuesday morning by retweeting a number of controversial images and sources – ranging from a known conspiracy theorist to an image depicting violence against the media.

The retweet storm came as critics wondered why Trump's scripted statement denouncing white supremacists for their role in the violence in Charlottesville came 48 hours after his initial remarks chiding "many sides" were criticized as inadequate.

Trump retweeted Jack Posobiec, an alt-right figure who pushed the Pizzagate and Seth Rich conspiracy theories, who questioned why there was no similar outrage over the violence in Chicago.

"Meanwhile: 39 shootings in Chicago this weekend, 9 deaths. No national media outrage. Why is that?"

Trump finally calls out racism in Charlottesville.



And then retweets Pizzagate conspiracy theorist.



Kelly has his work cut out for him. pic.twitter.com/yDe8ea9YAN — ian bremmer (@ianbremmer) August 15, 2017

The retweet remained on the president's account as of Tuesday morning.

The president also retweeted the account @slandinsocal, who posted an image of a person holding a CNN sign being hit by a train, with the commentary, "Nothing can stop the #TrumpTrain!!" The picture was an altered version of an IndyStar editorial cartoon, which depicted a Democratic donkey trying to hold back the Trump train.

The altered image was reminiscent of another controversial tweet, when the president posted a gif that depicted him body slamming and punching CNN. The retweet also comes the day after the president called a CNN reporter "fake news" during an exchange at the White House.

Yet the retweet's timing struck many social media users as in especially poor taste, just days after a 20-year-old alleged white nationalist drove a car into a crowd of people protesting the "Unite the Right" rally in Charlottesville – killing one and wounding 19 others in an incident Attorney General Jeff Sessions said appeared to fit the legal definition of domestic terrorism.

That retweet was deleted Tuesday morning, though it's unclear why. The president has deleted tweets and retweets in the past.

Walter Shaub, the former head of the Office of Government Ethics, called on Congress to condemn the president, given the recent violence in Charlottesville, Va.

Every Member of Congress must condemn POTUS for posting pic of a vehicle striking a reporter after terrorists used a vehicle to kill a woman pic.twitter.com/ryI1xMc4Nt — Walter Shaub (@waltshaub) August 15, 2017

...especially in light of what happened in VA over the weekend. Tone deaf, ignorant, vile, incompetent. @realDonaldTrump you're embarrassing — vanessa (@knownasvan) August 15, 2017

Trump also retweeted Mike Holden, who called the president a "fascist" in response to news that the president was "seriously considering" a pardon for former Arizona sheriff Joe Arpaio.

Trump had retweeted a story about a possible pardon for Arpaio, who was found guilty of criminal contempt related to a racial profiling case – which in itself would be highly controversial in the immediate aftermath of Charlottesville.

Trump deleted his retweet of the accusation of fascism on Tuesday morning, but Holden's Twitter bio reads, "Officially Endorsed by the President of the United States. I wish that were a good thing."

I'm announcing my retirement from Twitter. I'll never top this RT. pic.twitter.com/HuGHkiPoyR — Mike Holden (@MikeHolden42) August 15, 2017

He said he'd never top the retweet.

Contributing: Justin L. Mack, IndyStar