The battle over fake news has devolved into a pie fight, and the Trump administration isn’t winning.
This particular battle started when White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders sent out this tweet:
I️ dont cook much these days, but managed this Chocolate Pecan Pie for Thanksgiving at the family farm! pic.twitter.com/rO8nFxtly7
— Sarah Sanders (@PressSec) November 23, 2017
American Urban Radio Networks Washington bureau chief April Ryan saw Sander’s tweet and had a hard time believing that this perfect-looking pie shot against a white background was actually baked by the harried Press Secretary and not a stock photo from the internet. Ms. Ryan put on her investigative journalism hat to get to the bottom of the matter. She immediately tweeted back at Sanders:
Show it to us on a table. https://t.co/ifeSBlSZW7
— AprilDRyan (@AprilDRyan) November 24, 2017
Twitter exploded at the hint of Thanksgiving scandal with #PieGate and #FakePie hashtags beginning to trend. April Ryan doubled down after not hearing back from Sanders, referencing the Press Secretary’s request from earlier in the week when she demanded that reporters first recount something that they are thankful for before being allowed to ask a question.
I am not trying to be funny but folks are already saying #piegate and #fakepie Show it to us on the table with folks eating it and a pic of you cooking it. I am getting the biggest laugh out of this. I am thankful for this laugh on Black Friday! https://t.co/ifeSBlSZW7
— AprilDRyan (@AprilDRyan) November 24, 2017
Ryan did not let up, issuing a series of increasingly escalating tweets that got funnier and funnier as she incorporated other comments from the Twitterverse.
OMG! Lie-abetes!!! flat line! https://t.co/Pkakl1HUXc
— AprilDRyan (@AprilDRyan) November 24, 2017
I doubt if @PressSec saw the movie the Help and knows anything about that pie @octaviaspencer carried! https://t.co/XvpAJu6gAO
— AprilDRyan (@AprilDRyan) November 24, 2017
See I know your husband cooks up a storm and I have eaten his food. Beautiful pic of your real pie. And I do not want to leave the impression I was to taste @PressSec pie. NOPE! Not at all. I hope they enjoyed the stock photo pie! https://t.co/pIkGtqzFa0
— AprilDRyan (@AprilDRyan) November 24, 2017
With Twitter fans everywhere weighing in with accusations of “Fake News” and the scandal crossing over into traditional media,
I am laughing so hard at this. I needed this laugh! https://t.co/I4Dx8Lejaq
— AprilDRyan (@AprilDRyan) November 24, 2017
Sanders finally responded:
Don’t worry @AprilDRyan because I’m nice I’ll bake one for you next week #RealPie #FakeNews 😉 https://t.co/5W3mGbKs4J
— Sarah Sanders (@PressSec) November 24, 2017
The Sanders family weighed in as well:
Asked @PressSec’s daughter about #piegate. Claims pie was “made by Mom” and was “yummy”. Declined further comment as Paw Patrol was on.
— David W. Sanders (@DavidWSanders2) November 25, 2017
In this case, the proof is not in the pudding, but on the pie plate. Assuming that Sanders is serious about her offer, we await Ms. Ryan’s culinary review. Meanwhile, we are also very grateful for the laugh. Lord knows what Trump might tweet about us if we were ungrateful!
