‘Russian asset’: Meme war between Trump and the Washington Post.

With the Washington Post stuck in a mud-slinging meme war with Senate Republicans and President Donald Trump, the capital’s paper of record has found itself on the receiving end of internet trolls’ meme-cannons.

Confused? The sordid saga began Friday when the Post published an op-ed titled “Mitch McConnell is a Russian asset,” in which columnist Dana Milbank accused the Senate Majority Leader of selling out to the Kremlin by refusing to bring a trio of anti-election-meddling bills to the Senate floor.

That the bills came bundled with untenable (to the GOP at least) Democratic demands was immaterial; McConnell was quickly dubbed “Moscow Mitch” on Twitter.

Asked by reporters on Tuesday to respond, President Trump said, “The Washington Post called Mitch McConnell what? I think the Washington Post is a Russian asset by comparison.”

I asked @realDonaldTrump about the @washingtonpost piece calling @senatemajldr a "Russian asset". @POTUS– "I think the Washington Post is a Russia asset by comparison. Mitch McConnell loves our country. He's done a great job." @OANN pic.twitter.com/wTM8VvExs6

— Emerald Robinson ✝️ (@EmeraldRobinson) July 30, 2019

Though Trump has called the Post “garbage,” fiction,” and “more like a poorly written novel than good reporting,” Russian asset” is a new one for the president.

The Post wasted no time fact-checking Trump’s quip, proudly tweeting out: “Trump makes an unfounded claim The Washington Post is a ‘Russian Asset.”

The irony wasn’t lost on McConnell, however. “OMG I’m so sorry this is happening to you” tweeted his campaign team, with the patronizing just dripping from the emojis.

Omg I’m so sorry this is happening to you. ??? https://t.co/yRobPsi85v

— Team Mitch (@Team_Mitch) July 30, 2019

Other Twitter users joined in with glee.

– Washington Post:

“Trump is a Russian Asset”

“Mitch McConnell is a Russian Asset”

“The Republican Party is a Russian Asset”

– Trump:

“The Washington Post is a Russian Asset”

– Washington Post: *Triggered* pic.twitter.com/pqTKwPyB1d

— Dark Psychic ALX ? (@alx) July 30, 2019