ayatollah reads fire and fury

khamenei_ir/Instagram Remix by Tess Cagle

A CNN reporter welcomed Iran’s leader to the resistance—the internet wasn’t amused

Some folks don't think it's appropriate to joke with the Supreme Leader of Iran on Twitter.

 

Tess Cagle

Tech

Posted on May 12, 2018   Updated on May 21, 2021, 4:01 pm CDT

CNN investigative reporter Nathan Dermott tweeted a joke after Iran Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei shared a photo of himself reading Fire and Fury on Friday—but not everyone was amused by it.

Just days after President Donald Trump said he was backing out of a nuclear accord with Iran, Khamenei shared a photo of himself reading the controversial tell-all book on the president’s administration. Many saw it as the Ayatollah’s way to troll Trump.

In his tweet, Dermott welcomed Khamenei to “the resistance.”

https://twitter.com/natemcdermott/status/995012558686957568

Folks on Twitter did not find Dermott’s tweet funny or entertaining. Instead, they found it troubling that a member of the American press would think it was appropriate to joke with the leader of a nation that hasn’t always been too fond of the U.S.

Trump supporters and conservative media members, like editors of Breitbart, took the opportunity to bash on the “mainstream” media. Quite a few Twitter accounts that appear to be bots joined in on the conversation, as well. (We didn’t include any tweets we believe to have been tweeted by a bot).

https://twitter.com/RaheemKassam/status/995027063466790912

https://twitter.com/Derjucar/status/995308547813474305

https://twitter.com/ARTurOFWAR/status/995029969330954247

https://twitter.com/anthonypiccone/status/995023754936901632

Dermott, meanwhile, clarified in a tweet later that he was being sarcastic. Some users came to his defense.

https://twitter.com/natemcdermott/status/995027764012093442

https://twitter.com/RobProvince/status/995096063865491456

https://twitter.com/sashaengle/status/995303330279763969

After Trump announced he was backing out of the nuclear accord, Khamenei condemned the decision.  

“This man will turn to dust and his body will become food for snakes and ants,” he said. “And the Islamic Republic will still be standing.”

Share this article
*First Published: May 12, 2018, 11:12 am CDT