Twitter Erupts After CNN Broadcasts Cohen-Trump Tape

Twitter erupted late Tuesday night after CNN began broadcasting the tape that Michael Cohen recorded of his former client, President Donald Trump, in which they discussed a payment to buy the story of a Playboy model who allegedly had an affair with Trump.

Former Playbody model Karen McDougal alleged she had an extramarital affair with Trump about a decade ago.

"I need to open up a company for the transfer of all of that info regarding our friend David," Cohen told Trump ahead of the 2016 presidential election, likely a reference to American Media CEO and chairman David Pecker.

McDougal was silenced by Pecker, who bought her story for National Enquirer and then reportedly spiked it.

Trump interrupts Cohen, asking, "What financing?"

Cohen tells Trump, "We'll have to pay," and then Trump is heard saying "pay with cash."

The reaction in Twitter was swift and massive:

This is the point https://t.co/hfYhzu8yb0
— Chris Cillizza (@CillizzaCNN) July 25, 2018

Listen to part of the audio recording that appears to show Michael Cohen and Trump discussing payments involving an ex-Playboy model https://t.co/LShIMjb0M5 pic.twitter.com/QbO3CJSh7v
— POLITICO (@politico) July 25, 2018

A hit dog hollers https://t.co/CLTtJQQDCU
— Marc Caputo (@MarcACaputo) July 25, 2018

::blinks:: https://t.co/nAzVvTYdbE
— ana marie cox (@anamariecox) July 25, 2018

.@Reince on controversies facing @POTUS: "I do also believe that there is a huge benefit to the president of putting some of these things to bed." @IngrahamAngle pic.twitter.com/ftQxpMUlKe
— Fox News (@FoxNews) July 25, 2018

When asked about whether tape shows Trump knew about McDougal deal, Giuliani said, “It doesn’t. That’s open to interpretation and we can have a fight about that.”

“To me it sounds like Cohen is explaining something to [Trump] that he doesn’t understand.”
— Robert Costa (@costareports) July 25, 2018

charleston, Mark Burns, Pastor Scott, Mark Kasowotz, our friend David, need to open a company, what financing, all need is delay few weeks https://t.co/R1q5L0iZ5y
— Laura Rozen (@lrozen) July 25, 2018

Giuliani Fires Back at Lanny Davis Over Trump-Cohen Tape: ‘The President’s Not an Idiot’ https://t.co/BxaUUFjGJv pic.twitter.com/IE7uBEjLrA
— Mediaite (@Mediaite) July 25, 2018

Ahhh. So he *wasn’t* going to take out a mortgage for his secret mistress payments. Now it all makes sense. https://t.co/SeTi6OgOEL
— Chris Hayes (@chrislhayes) July 25, 2018

Giuliani on Trump’s reax tonight. Says they spoke. “He’s disappointed.” Angry? “Bob, I didn’t say angry, I said he is disappointed. He’s disappointed his own lawyer recorded him. Discouraged.” Will POTUS speak out? “He has Twitter...”
— Robert Costa (@costareports) July 25, 2018

The tape is out. A nearly 3-minute audio recording appears to show Michael Cohen talking to Trump about plans to buy the rights to former Playboy model Karen McDougal’s story https://t.co/fbPyeFN5KC
— POLITICO (@politico) July 25, 2018