President Trump’s senior adviser, Kellyanne Conway, is walking back her claim that microwaves can be turned into cameras to spy on people, which led to intense ridicule online.
“I’ve said many times that we are pleased the House/Senate Intel Committee are investigating and will comment after [the probe concludes],” Conway tweeted Monday, March 13, adding the headlines covering her statements about microwave surveillance are “just wrong.”
1/2: On wiretap claims, I have said many times that we are pleased the House/Senate Intel Committees are investigating & will comment after
— Kellyanne Conway (@KellyannePolls) March 13, 2017
2/2: response to Bergen Record was about surveillance articles in news & techniques generally, not about campaign. Headline just wrong.
— Kellyanne Conway (@KellyannePolls) March 13, 2017
“What I can say is there are many ways to surveil each other,” Conway told The Bergen Record during a Sunday, March 12, interview when asked if she knew whether or not Trump Tower had been bugged. “There was an article this week talking about how you can surveil someone through their phones, certainly through their television sets — any number of different ways — and microwaves that turn into cameras, etc. So, we know that is just a fact of modern life.”
Conway’s statement seemed to site the Wikileaks documents released Wednesday, March 8, that alleged the CIA uses devices like TVs and smartphones to spy on Americans. When “Good Morning America” confronted her Monday, March 13, Conway said she had “no evidence, but that’s why there’s an investigation in Congress.”
Conway continued to distance herself from the remarks on several other morning news programs, admitting to “CNN Politics,” “I’m no Inspector Gadget.” The former Republican Party campaign manager maintained she answered the question “generally” rather and not specifically to Trump Tower, despite being asked directly about wiretapping in the skyscraper.
Kellyanne Conway: “I’m not Inspector Gadget. I don’t believe people are using the microwave to spy" on Trump https://t.co/6722ppF5b6 pic.twitter.com/OsBh5qKmib
— CNN Politics (@CNNPolitics) March 13, 2017
President Trump seemed to come to Conway’s defense Monday morning.
It is amazing how rude much of the media is to my very hard working representatives. Be nice, you will do much better!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 13, 2017
Online, users had fun taking shots at his counselor.
At home trying to get over this flu. Also, trying to find and smash the secret camera in my microwave… #kellyanneconway #alternativefact pic.twitter.com/agAQV46cNi
— Charles M. Blow (@CharlesMBlow) March 13, 2017
https://twitter.com/SensiblySecular/status/841289327107854336
#KellyanneConway SPIES!!!!! pic.twitter.com/7SbE1XpM0Z
— Gabe (@Phelix80) March 13, 2017
Someone please tell @KellyannePolls #kellyanneconway that the microwave wasn't bugged. Trump just left fork in his ramen.#kellyannecrazy pic.twitter.com/aZtFhK83yc
— Ted Corcoran (RedTRaccoon) (@RedTRaccoon) March 13, 2017
"Kellyanne, I served w/ Inspector Gadget. Inspector Gadget was a friend of mine. Kellyanne, you're no Inspector Gadget." – Penny pic.twitter.com/cZb8Rx3HFK
— ZC Travel Agency (@ZootopiaCity) March 13, 2017
