Seemorerocks: CNN's Acosta denied entry to White House following aggressive Trump press-conference

"You Are A Rude, Terrible Person": Trump Unloads On CNN's Jim Acosta During Tense Press Briefing

7 November, 2018

Update: CNN in a statement said that Presidnet Turmp's attacks "have gone too far," and "are not only dangerous, they are disturbingly un-American."

"A free press is vital to democracy, and we stand behind Jim Acosta and his fellow journalists everywhere," added the network.

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President Trump and CNN's Jim Acosta got into a verbal altercation during a contentious press briefing Wednesday.

While asking Trump about a northbound migrant caravan making its way to the southern US border, Acosta challenged Trump's characterization of the group as an "invasion."

Acosta asked "Why did you characterize it as such?" to which Trump replied "because I consider it an invasion. You and I have a difference of opinion."

"Do you think that you demonized immigrants?" Acosta shot back.

"Not at all, no - not at all," Trump replied. "I want them to come into the country, but they have to come in legally. You know, they have to come in Jim through a process. And I want people to come in, and we need the people."

Acosta then questioned Trump on an midterm advertisement showing "migrants climbing over walls and so-on," to which Trump fired back: "They weren't actors."

After more barbs were exchanged between the two, Trump said: "Honestly, I think you should let me run the country, you run CNN, and if you did it well, your ratings would be much better."

Acosta then refused to sit down, leading to a standoff in which a White House aide tried to take his microphone.

Trump then dressed down Acosta:

"You know, CNN should be ashamed of itself having you working for them. You are a rude, terrible person. You shouldn't be working for CNN," adding "The way you treat Sarah Huckabee is horrible."

After NBC's Peter Alexander came to Acosta's defense, Trump added: "well I'm not a big fan of yours either, to be honest. You aren't the best."

The exchange has Twitter buzzing:

CNN's Acosta denied entry to White House following aggressive Trump press-conference

RT,

7 November, 2018

The Trump administration has pulled CNN reporter Jim Acosta's press credentials after a heated exchange with Trump during a press conference on Wednesday. Acosta found out when the Secret Service blocked his entry.

Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders confirmed Acosta's credentials had been revoked, stating "We will never tolerate a reporter placing his hands on a young woman just trying to do her job as a White House intern."Acosta appeared to push the woman's arm down as she tried to take the microphone away from him while he was haranguing the president.

via GIPHY

Sarah Sanders✔@PressSec

· 4h

Replying to @PressSec

Contrary to CNN’s assertions there is no greater demonstration of the President’s support for a free press than the event he held today. Only they would attack the President for not supporting a free press in the midst of him taking 68 questions from 35 different reporters...

Sarah Sanders✔@PressSec

...over the course of 1.5 hours including several from the reporter in question. The fact that CNN is proud of the way their employee behaved is not only disgusting, it‘s an example of their outrageous disregard for everyone, including young women, who work in this Administration

1:54 PM - Nov 8, 2018

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Contradicting a widely-seen video of the incident, CNN claims Acosta never touched the intern and called the revocation of his pass a "threat to democracy."

There is some confusion as to whether the force seen in the video comes from Acosta pushing the intern's arm down or her pulling the mic from him. The reporter is clearly seen touching the woman's arm, though.

Social media has predictably erupted in a frenzy, while CNN president Jeff Zucker reportedly tried to reassure Acosta's colleagues with a memo that read in part that Trump’s “ongoing attacks on the press have gone too far” and “are disturbingly un-American.” Acosta's canonization as Patron Saint of the Resistance is pending.

Trump and Acosta sparred during a press conference earlier Wednesday that culminated in Trump telling the reporter, "Honestly, I think you should let me run the country, you run CNN, and if you did it well, your ratings would be much better." When an intern tried to take the mic from Acosta to let the next reporter ask a question, he continued needling the president, who finally called him a "rude, terrible person."