Hours after the video of CNN journalist Jim Acosta gave grief to US President Donald Trump with his hard-hitting questions during a press conference, the White House has suspended his credentials.
In the viral video, Acosta was called ‘rude. terrible person’ by Trump as the former launched a barrage of uncomfortable questions towards Trump, who accused the journalist and his channel of peddling fake news. The journalist later took to Twitter to inform that the Secret Service stopped him when he tried to re-enter the White House on Wednesday evening.
Press secretary Sarah Sanders, according to BBC, said that a reporter’s access had been suspended because he put ‘his hands on a young woman.’ The woman in question is perhaps the same, who had struggled with Acosta for his microphone during the press conference.
He tweeted, “I’ve just been denied entrance to the WH. Secret Service just informed me I cannot enter the WH grounds for my 8pm 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 (@Acosta) November 8, 2018
Sanders, in a tweeted statement, said, “President Trump believes in a free press and expects and welcomes tough questions of him and his Administration. We will, however, never tolerate a reporter placing his hands on a young woman just trying to do her job as a White House intern.
“This conduct is absolutely unacceptable. It is also completely disrespectful to the reporter’s colleagues not to allow them an opportunity to ask a question. President Trump has given the press more access than any President in history.”
She added, “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.
“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.”
She concluded her statement that ‘as a result of today’s incident, the White House is suspending the hard pass of the reporter involved until further notice.’
CNN said in its statement that Trump’s ‘ongoing attacks on the press’ had gone too far adding that they were ‘not only dangerous, they are disturbingly un-American.’ Its statement read, “While President Trump has made it clear he does not respect a free press, he has a sworn obligation to protect it.. A free press is vital to democracy, and we stand behind Jim Acosta and his fellow journalists everywhere.”
During the press conference (see video below), Trump and Acosta were engaged in a heated exchange. However, what caused more embarrassment to Trump was that when he moved to the next reporter, NBC’s Peter Alexander, he too voiced his support to Acosta before asking his question.
Alexander said, “I’ve traveled with him (Acosta) and watched him, he is a diligent reporter who busts his butt like the rest of us.” An embarrassed Trump replied, “Well I’m not a big fan of yours either, to be honest.” His discomfort caused a huge laughter in the room.
BREAKING: President Trump, CNN Correspondent Jim Acosta and @NBCNews Correspondent @PeterAlexander engage in tense exchanges in post-election news conference. pic.twitter.com/WUlXemGn7y
— NBC News (@NBCNews) November 7, 2018
