'Headline was flawed': New York Times changed headline about Trump speech after backlash
A photo of the front page of Tuesday's New York Times sparked immediate criticism on Monday night – including from several 2020 Democratic presidential candidates.
The headline read "Trump urges unity vs. racism." It comes after President Donald Trump addressed the nation after mass shootings in Dayton, Ohio, and El Paso, Texas, that killed nine and 22 people, respectively.
The headline ran in the Times' first print edition and was changed in subsequent editions, The Times told USA TODAY in a statement Tuesday.
The original headline didn't sit well with a number of Democrats.
"Let this front page serve as a reminder of how white supremacy is aided by – and often relies upon – the cowardice of mainstream institutions," tweeted Rep. Alexandra Ocasio-Cortez of New York.
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Let this front page serve as a reminder of how white supremacy is aided by - and often relies upon - the cowardice of mainstream institutions. https://t.co/ynjgtT66yI
— Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@AOC) August 6, 2019
New Jersey Sen. Cory Booker, who told CNN over the weekend that Trump was "responsible for this," said via Twitter: "Lives literally depend on you doing better, NYT. "Please do."
Fellow Democratic presidential candidates Kirsten Gillibrand and Beto O'Rourke – who called the headline "unbelievable" – also sounded off on Twitter.
That’s not what happened. https://t.co/m6eIZOARcZ
— Kirsten Gillibrand (@SenGillibrand) August 6, 2019
Unbelievable. https://t.co/rLgaacttDS
— Beto O'Rourke (@BetoORourke) August 6, 2019
Even a New York Times contributor was taken aback by the headline. Op-ed contributing writer Wajahat Ali tweeted: "I write for the NYT. This is a terrible headline."
Trump has repeatedly faced criticism for his stance on immigration. He also recently tweeted four Democratic congresswomen should "go back" to the "crime infested places from which they came."
Trump's tweets were condemned as racist by the U.S. House of Representatives.
The Times' headline was changed for the newspaper's next edition, reading "Assailing hate but not guns."
Ali tweeted appreciation: "This one is on point! Thank you!"
"The original headline was flawed and was changed for all editions of the paper following the first edition," Danielle Rhoades Ha, vice president of Communications for The Times, said in an emailed statement Tuesday. "The headline in question never appeared online, only in the first print edition."
As a result of the controversy, the hashtag #CancelNYT began trending on Twitter Tuesday afternoon as social media users expressed outrage about the headline. Many demanded the resignation of Times editors while pledging to unsubscribe from the paper and calling for others to do the same.
Dear @nytimes:
We've had just about enough of your pretending to be balanced and objective. You littered journalism with your hit jobs on Hillary's emails, overlooked the dozens of warnings on trump, and helped legitimize his inept reign of hatred.
WE'RE DONE.#CancelNYT pic.twitter.com/bFsfM1TnVG— BrooklynDad_Defiant! (@mmpadellan) August 6, 2019
It isn't just the headline
It isn't just one journalist
It isn't just Trump-Mob apologist Haberman
It isn't just misleading Russian-propaganda amplifying headlines
It isn't just the false premise of their attacks on HRC, ie Clinton Cash.
It's all of this put together. #CancelNYT pic.twitter.com/zpxPFhKa85— Selena Adera🍩 (@Selena_Adera) August 6, 2019
Finally something the left and right can unite behind. #CancelNYT
— absolute peak centrist (@marlecoyote) August 6, 2019
Some have criticized the hashtag, arguing The Times buckled too easily by changing the headline under liberal pressure.
The uproar of #CancelNYT is further proof that the Left is terrified that the truth will get out. They will lie, steal, kill, cheat and change headlines to propagate their narrative.
— Pastor Greg Locke (@pastorlocke) August 6, 2019
Both front pages were shared by New York Times associate masthead editor Tom Jolly on Twitter.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: New York Times changed 'flawed' headline on Donald Trump speech