There’s no question that President Trump is enjoying — realllly enjoying — the meltdown of CNN.
He’s been calling the liberal network “fake news” since early in his presidential campaign, and CNN has had a slew of humiliating embarrassments in recent days. There are so many, like this one, in which a producer admits CNN refused to scrutinize Obama like it does Trump, and this one, in which CNN claims a totally false (and subsequently retracted) story may actually be true.
That latter story about Trump-Russia collusion resulted in the resignation of three of the network’s widely-respected journalists. So, we’re gonna’ say it’s not true.
As we said, Trump’s loving it.
But the White House has also gotten under the skin of CNN by barring cameras at some of its daily briefings. For the record, holding the briefing off camera often limits the grandstanding of reporters — which President George W. Bush called “peacocking” — and keeps the affair more orderly.
The network’s White House reporter, Jim Acosta, has bemoaned the move, tweeting out on June 19:
And again at Monday’s off-camera briefing, Acosta had a hissy fit about the off-camera status, berating Press Secretary Sean Spicer and interrupting him repeatedly.
When Acosta accosted Spicer, talking over another reporter, Spicer said: “There’s no camera on, Jim.”
That set Acosta off. “Maybe we should turn the cameras on, Sean. Why don’t we turn the cameras on? Why don’t we turn the cameras on? Why not turn the cameras on?”
Spicer took another question, but Acosta persisted.
“Why are the cameras off, Sean? Why did you turn them off?”
Then Acosta went bigger. “You are a taxpayer-fund spokesman for the United States government.”
“Some days we’ll have it, some days we won’t,” Spicer said.
The day just got worse from there for Acosta, LifeZette reports.
Late Monday afternoon, at a White House event in the Rose Garden honoring Indian Prime Minister Narenda Modi, CNN’s seat (usually in the front row) was moved to the back.
After asking White House staffers about the insult of sitting in the back, Acosta was moved to the front row.
“Silly games,” Acosta muttered before his live shot.
Awwww, poor baby. Hey, idea, Jim. Maybe spend less time whining, perhaps skip the Hollywood Reporter‘s 35 Most Powerful People In Media gala, like the one you attended in April, and man up. Do your reporting, work your sources. Then, report your facts on CNN.
Sure, it’s a crazy idea, but it just might work.
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