Jake Tapper slams Fox News for misrepresenting comments about New York City terror attack

Twitter/CNN

CNN anchor Jake Tapper

• Jake Tapper accused Fox News of lying after one of its articles took the anchor's words about the New York City terrorist attack out of context.
• Tapper had said that "Allahu akbar" can be said both under "beautiful" circumstances and "in moments like this" - but a Fox News headline left out half of the quote.
• Tapper compared Fox News to the "nutjobs" at Infowars.

CNN anchor Jake Tapper admonished Fox News for taking his comments about the deadly terrorist attack in New York City out of context.

Fox News published an article with the headline "CNN's Jake Tapper: 'Allahu Akbar' Can Be Said Under 'Most Beautiful' of Circumstances" on Wednesday. The article referenced comments Tapper made on Tuesday after it was reported that the suspect in the attack had at one point shouted "Allahu Akbar," Arabic for "God is great."

The headline is preceded by a tag reading "OUTRAGEOUS."

But the Fox News headline left out the second half of Tapper's quote, which distinguished Tuesday's attack from the "beautiful" circumstances he alluded to.

Tapper said at the time, "The Arabic chant 'Allahu Akbar,' God is great, sometimes is said under the most beautiful of circumstances. And too often, we hear it being said in moments like this."

On Wednesday, Fox News promoted the article with a tweet that distorted his quote even more. "Jake Tapper Says 'Allahu Akbar' Is 'Beautiful' Right After NYC Terror Attack," the tweet said.

Tapper did not respond kindly to the misrepresentation of his words.

"Fox News is lying," Tapper said in a tweet. "I said it can be said at beautiful moments (wedding, birth) and too often at times like this (horrific terrorist attack)."

"'Allahu Akbar' is a prayer," he said. "If we don't understand how radical Islamic terrorists justify their evil using religion, West cannot defeat it."

"@FoxNews chooses instead to deliberately lie about what I said. Following the slime-coated path of @DailyCaller and @infowars. Disgusting," Tapper continued, referencing two other right-wing sites. "And yes, I know they do this all the time. Still, literally the day after this horrific attack that they would launch this smear - it's sick."

"There was a time when one could tell the difference between Fox and the nutjobs at Infowars. It's getting tougher and tougher. Lies are lies."

Fox News deleted its tweet promoting the article later on Wednesday.