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Trump calls Jeff Zucker 'world-class sleazebag', Internet says 'takes one to know one'

Zucker's unexpected resignation comes after his failure to disclose his consensual relationship with a closest colleague on Wednesday

Donald Trump has slammed Jeff Zucker, former president of CNN Worldwide as "world-class sleazebag" just a few hours after the latter's unexpected resignation on Wednesday, February 2. Zucker who issued a memo to CNN staff disclosed reason for his immediate departure as his failure to disclose a "consensual relationship with closest colleague", who was revealed to be CNN chief marketing officer Allison Gollust. 

Trump issued a statement saying, "Jeff Zucker, a world-class sleazebag who has headed ratings and real-news-challenged CNN for far too long, has been terminated for numerous reasons, but predominately because CNN has lost its way with viewers and everybody else." "Now is a chance to put Fake News in the backseat because there may not be anything more important than straightening out the horrendous LameStream Media in our Country, and in the case of CNN, throughout the World." Trump added, "Jeff Zucker is gone — congratulations to all!".

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Zucker's involvement with Trump predated his time at CNN. During his turn as head of NBC Entertainment, Zucker put the former reality star's 'Apprentice' on NBC in 2004 and made him a household name. However, their relationship grew increasingly hostile during Trump's presidency. Zucker in an interview said in 2016, "If we made any mistake last year, it's that we probably did put on too many of his campaign rallies in those early months and let them run". He continued, "Because you never knew what he would say."

Zucker became a frequent target of Trump on his Twitter feed and in public speeches during the 2016 campaign, with former reality star criticizing Zucker's harsh coverage of his administration. Trump claimed credit for CNN's rise in the ratings and repeatedly labeled it, along with other legacy print and cable news outlets, "the enemy of the American people." When AT&T moved to acquire CNN's parent company Time Warner in 2017, Trump's Justice Department tried to hold up the deal. 

After Trump's statement about Jeff Zucker's resignation started circulating on social media, netizens couldn't help but say something about it. One user wrote, "I love it! Trump's statement regarding CNN's Zucker, Trump calls Zucker a "world-class sleazebag"! I miss Trump & I love hearing the TRUTH". "Trump talking about someone else being a world class sleazebag is the height of irony," said another. A third sarcastically added, "Takes one to know one".

Someone else commented, "Trump, who cheated on all three wives, and being a despicable POS, is well aware of the traits of a world-class sleazebag. Always proiecting. This narcissistic criminal is unbelievable!!" Commenting on the complicated relationship between Trump and Zucker, someone said, "This is funny because this "world class sleazebag" gave Drumpy here a job on the popular and profit making THE APPRENTICE when Drumpy's financials were, how we say, down the fucking toilet. Not after getting that show, though. Sleazebags look after sleazebags."