The Trump administration and numerous reporters mocked the revelation that the alleged “senior administration official” that was behind The New York Times’ “anonymous” op-ed two years ago was not nearly as high-ranking as he was portrayed.
The author, Miles Taylor, was immediately discredited following the revelation after video clips of him emerged showing him repeatedly denying in media interviews that he was “anonymous.”
”President Trump is focused on leading the great American comeback and keeping his promises to the American people,” the administration said in a statement. “This low-level, disgruntled former staffer is a liar and a coward who chose anonymity over action and leaking over leading.”
“He was ineffective and incompetent during his time as DHS Chief of Staff which is why he was promptly fired after only serving in this role for a matter of weeks,” the statement continued. “It is appalling a low-ranking official would be granted anonymity and it is clear the New York Times is doing the bidding of Never-Trumpers and Democrats. The American people elected President Trump to carry out his vision for the country, not an arrogant deep state operative trying to put their agenda ahead of the President’s America First policies.”
White House chief of staff Mark Meadows wrote: “Laughable as the ‘Miles Taylor Anonymous’ episode is, it’s every bit as damaging to the media. The New York Times amplified a no-name agency deputy with no access to President Trump and misled Americans into thinking he was an influential senior official. Absolutely ridiculous.”
Laughable as the “Miles Taylor Anonymous” episode is, it’s every bit as damaging to the media. The New York Times amplified a no-name agency deputy with no access to President Trump and misled Americans into thinking he was an influential senior official. Absolutely ridiculous.
— Mark Meadows (@MarkMeadows) October 28, 2020
Hard-left CNN analyst Susan Hennessey noted that the decision by The New York Times to label him a “senior administration official” and grant him anonymity in the op-ed does not hold up well given who Miles Taylor is.
Axios reporter Jonathan Swan noted that The New York Times’ decision was an “embarrassment.”
It’s an embarrassment. https://t.co/jIebjS1Q5d
— Jonathan Swan (@jonathanvswan) October 28, 2020
NRSC Senior Advisor Matt Whitlock noted: “Miles Taylor wasn’t even listed on DHS’s senior leadership page when NYT published his op-ed because he was just a policy advisor, not even chief of staff.”
Wow. Miles Taylor wasn't even listed on DHS's senior leadership page when NYT published his op-ed because he was just a policy advisor, not even chief of staff.
Here's a snapshot of top leadership at DHS a few weeks after the op-ed was published. (October 2018) pic.twitter.com/3CPzKcdB6N
— Matt Whitlock (@mattdizwhitlock) October 28, 2020
“Rising” host Saagar Enjeti commented: “Miles Taylor is* the first author in history to BENEFIT from being anonymous when writing a book If anyone knew who he was they wouldn’t have given a shit.”
Miles Taylor is* the first author in history to BENEFIT from being anonymous when writing a book
If anyone knew who he was they wouldn't have given a shit
— Saagar Enjeti (@esaagar) October 28, 2020
Vox commentator Matthew Yglesias wrote: “The anonymity in the original op-ed combined with these paragraphs is used to create the false impression that we are reading the thoughts of a cabinet officer with direct knowledge of these conversations, not a Schedule C rehashing press reports.”
Daily Caller Editor-in-Chief Geoffrey Ingersoll added: “Yeah this is … really bad … carefully crafting the sense that Anonymous was a cabinet member … it’s also reckless to inject that kind of paranoia into a WH admin for … what amounts to clicks.”
Yeah this is … really bad … carefully crafting the sense that Anonymous was a cabinet member … it’s also reckless to inject that kind of paranoia into a WH admin for … what amounts to clicks. https://t.co/xUQORh33CW
— Geoffrey Ingersoll (@GPIngersoll) October 28, 2020
Journalist Yashar Ali tweeted: “Miles Taylor is the new James Comey. He’s not a hero to either side.”
Miles Taylor is the new James Comey. He’s not a hero to either side.
— Yashar Ali 🐘 (@yashar) October 28, 2020
Reporter Jim Brunner noted that CNN hired Taylor after Taylor lied to the network when he falsely claimed that he was not “anonymous.”
Wait, so @CNN hired this Miles Taylor guy as a contributor a month after he LIED to Anderson Cooper about being the "anonymous" NYT writer? https://t.co/ts2nD4jSsz pic.twitter.com/9ru7Zo6xA0
— Jim Brunner (@Jim_Brunner) October 28, 2020