President Donald Trump torched a CNN reporter during a press conference on Sunday after the reporter asked Trump about a remark that he made last week, and left out the full context of his remarks.
“I would also like to ask you about some comments you made on Friday,” CNN reporter Jeremy Diamond said. “You were talking about governors of different states and you said I want them to be appreciative. You also said if they don’t treat you right, I don’t call.”
“I didn’t say that,” Trump fired back. “Excuse me, ready? Take a look at what I said. I want them to be appreciative of me, okay, and then you cut it off because it is fake news [reporter interrupts] please, let me just finish. … Your statement and your response in your answer is a lie because here’s the story, are you ready? I said I want you to be appreciative of me, and then you go on — and then I go on, you cut it off.”
Trump then got the CNN reporter to read off the full context of his remarks last week when Trump said: “I want them to be appreciative. I don’t want them to say things that aren’t true. I want them to be appreciative. We’ve done a great job. And I’m not talking about me. I’m talking about Mike Pence, the task force, I’m talking about FEMA, the Army Corps of Engineers.”
Diamond then brought up additional remarks that Trump made during that same press conference from last week when Trump appeared to say in a semi-joking manner that he did not call two Democrat governors because of how the treat the administration but that Vice President Mike Pence calls them and works with them.
“You are not appreciating these incredible people, from private enterprise that are delivering things in numbers that nobody’s ever seen,” Trump told the reporter. “That’s why people aren’t watching CNN very much anymore. That’s why they don’t like it. That’s why your ratings are no good because you even after knowing the truth for days now, you bring up the old lie. Read the rest of your question, the rest of your statement, you didn’t put in. You have to put that in. And it said in there FEMA. It said in there Army Corps of Engineers because when they disrespect me, they’re disrespecting our government. And you know what? I don’t mind if I’m disrespected, but they can’t disrespect the Army Corps of Engineers and FEMA.”
Trump then called on a different reporter but the CNN reporter continued to shout and interrupt.
“I want them to appreciate the incredible job we’re doing,” Trump responded. “We are doing a job the likes of which has never been done before. And there are a couple of people that know that, but for political reasons, let’s say they are Democrats, they don’t want to give this administration credit, then’s okay — and that’s okay, but I don’t have to deal with them. But our vice president does deal with them.
“That’s why CNN is not trusted anymore,” Trump continued. They are not trusted. They are fake news. Remember that.”
“We are not fake news!” the reporter responded.
“Yes, you are,” Trump fired back.
WATCH:
President Trump calls out CNN for taking his comments about being appreciative out of context.
"That is why CNN is not trusted anymore. They are Fake News." pic.twitter.com/H1ioK5FVb7
— Benny Johnson (@bennyjohnson) March 29, 2020