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President Donald Trump made it very clear he hates bad press. Even when facts back the reports about him, he refers to all negative press as "fake news."
Because a free and honest press should report the truth, even if the President in office lies, Trump refers to most of the press as "the enemy of the people." During a Wednesday press conference, the President took his attacks a step further.
CNN White House correspondent Jim Acosta tried to ask Trump a question he did not want to answer, so the President told him to give up the microphone and sit down. Acosta finally relinquished the mic to a White House aide—that tried to grab it from him earlier—after Trump moved to walk out of the press conference.
Trump then berated Acosta.
The President stated:
"I’ll tell you what, CNN should be ashamed of itself having you working for them. You are a rude, terrible person. You shouldn’t be working for CNN."
Trump then claimed Acosta treated Sarah Huckabee Sanders poorly when he questioned her about the President's use of the phrase "enemy of the people" to describe any press that fails to flatter him or when he disputed a Trump lie that Sanders repeated during her White House briefings.
When the next reporter attempted to defend Acosta, Trump told NBC’s Peter Alexander he was not fond of him either.
Many thanks to my friend @PeterAlexander https://t.co/jCl1g8CHQL— Jim Acosta (@Jim Acosta) 1541612552.0
Acosta stood to remind Trump of pipe bombs sent to CNN and his use of the phrase "enemy of the people" to describe press outlets that criticize him or tell truths he dislikes. Trump reiterated his claim CNN was fake news and deserved whatever happened to them.
I just want to state this as clearly as possible: Jim Acosta was asking about the PIPE BOMBS sent to the CNN offic… https://t.co/7aKHFks1uH— Mikel Jollett (@Mikel Jollett) 1541617067.0
Watch the exchange here.
'You are a rude, terrible person': @realDonaldTrump ripped into CNN's Jim @Acosta during a press conference as a Wh… https://t.co/ONfl2bEzFJ— SBS News (@SBS News) 1541626212.0
BREAKING: White House aide grabs and tries to physically remove a microphone from CNN Correspondent Jim Acosta duri… https://t.co/clvYlW03ct— MSNBC (@MSNBC) 1541612337.0
Trump went on to claim CNN's polls were a form of voter suppression.
CNN responded to the President's attacks with an official statement of support for Acosta and the First Amendment. The network wrote:
"This President's ongoing attacks on the press have gone too far. They are not only dangerous, they are disturbingly un-American."
CNN then raised the issue of the President's oath of office to defend the Constitution, including the First Amendment.
"While President Trump has made it clear he does not respect a free press, he has a sworn obligation to protect it."
CNN concluded:
"A free press is vital to democracy, and we stand behind Jim Acosta and his fellow journalists everywhere."
They posted their response on Twitter as well.
CNN’s response to @realDonaldTrump’s press conference today: https://t.co/tJ3nZDnYwO— CNN Communications (@CNN Communications) 1541615363.0
Others also came out in support of Acosta and a free press.
Other news organizations and individuals tweeted their support for Acosta and the First Amendment against Trump's attacks.
Trump has called @Acosta an "enemy of the people." Told @AprilDRyan to sit down. Scolded @PeterAlexander. And said… https://t.co/48kCTeWSJc— Jason Schwartz (@Jason Schwartz) 1541614088.0
The president responded to questions with personal attacks—calling CNN's Jim @Acosta a "rude, terrible person" and… https://t.co/oPPw0EZFk9— PEN America (@PEN America) 1541622380.0
The free press is a pillar of democracy. It is alarming to see the President of the United States attack journalists for doing their jobs.— PEN America (@PEN America) 1541622380.0
By harassing @Acosta for simply doing his job & deeming him as the 'enemy of the people', President Trump is engagi… https://t.co/20orurzFfr— NAHJ (@NAHJ) 1541622828.0
@Hollaworldwide @PhilipRucker @Acosta @PeterAlexander @AprilDRyan It’s sickening and scary to watch— ashley glick (@ashley glick) 1541612499.0
@CNNPR @JoyAnnReid How do we get all journalists to stand up for each other. The other journalists in that room nee… https://t.co/4rmfO7f6I6— Wendy Grahn (@Wendy Grahn) 1541625149.0
@PhilipRucker @Acosta @PeterAlexander @AprilDRyan Watching the press conference here in Europe, POTUS has not reall… https://t.co/OWJ70fyWwP— Jaakko Aho (@Jaakko Aho) 1541613074.0
@JackGlade @PhilipRucker @Acosta @PeterAlexander @AprilDRyan Never does...kind of like the White House briefings....— Mis-Spruce (@Mis-Spruce) 1541613495.0
I stand with @CNN and @Acosta. I will never stand with @realDonaldTrump and his attacks on the free press. https://t.co/9asdLKk9wB— Ryan Knight 🏳️🌈🗽 (@Ryan Knight 🏳️🌈🗽) 1541619738.0
This is not how the president of the United States should be conducting himself. Watch: the full exchange between… https://t.co/Anfux33mU9— Tomthunkit™ (@Tomthunkit™) 1541625856.0
After the pipe bomb attacks executed by the aptly dubbed MAGAbomber, reporters asked Trump if he planned to tone down his attacks on the media. Today's press conference indicates he clearly does not.
Wednesday night, Acosta posted to Twitter that he had been barred from entering the White House for the 8:00pm press hit.
I’ve just been denied entrance to the WH. Secret Service just informed me I cannot enter the WH grounds for my 8pm hit— Jim Acosta (@Jim Acosta) 1541637988.0
Acosta also added video of a Secret Service officer taking his press pass.
The US Secret Service just asked for my credential to enter the WH. As I told the officer, I don’t blame him. I kno… https://t.co/EQgpgeV4qs— Jim Acosta (@Jim Acosta) 1541638339.0
According to media reports, Sarah Huckabee Sanders stated the revocation of Acosta's credentials were because of "placing his hands on a young woman just trying to do her job." Others disputer Sanders claim.
This is video of the White House intern attempting to wrench the mic away from @Acosta. He is not “placing his hand… https://t.co/llw9ycUp0U— Jamil Smith (@Jamil Smith) 1541639959.0
Every word is a shameless lie contradicted by videos: 1. Trump does *not* believe in a free press; 2. Trump does… https://t.co/59AxJrsytR— Mrs. Betty Bowers (@Mrs. Betty Bowers) 1541640556.0
This story continues to develop.