CNN’s Jim Acosta has been working as a journalist for more than 20 years, even reporting from on the ground in Baghdad during the Iraq War. His toughest job to date, however, appears to be covering a thin-skinned 72-year-old manchild who managed to worm his way into the White House.
The scene in front of WH tonight… pic.twitter.com/XWAf4nzJFT
— Jim Acosta (@Acosta) November 8, 2018
During Wednesday’s press conference in which Trump bragged about all the victories the GOP scored during the midterms – they gained two Senate seats so far but lost control of the House and lost seven governors’ seats – Jim Acosta had a confrontation with the president during which a female aide walked up and attempted to grab Acosta’s microphone. His hand landed on her bicep as she reached in.
Acosta turned to her, said “pardon me, ma’am, I’m trying to ask a question,” and continued. A few hours later, when he returned to do his 8:00 PM EST reporting, Secret Service informed him that his press credentials had been revoked. The White House is accusing him of assaulting the aide.
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
The president and the CNN journalist have been at odds since Trump’s first press conference as president. The night before that press conference, CNN had broken the story of the Russian dossier that had been compiled by Christopher Steele. In the web version of that story, a link to Buzzfeed’s story that included the entire dossier with all its salacious details was included.
Trump refused to take questions from Acosta that day, pointing to him and saying “you are fake news.”
Acosta appeared stunned when he videoed the exchange with Secret Service.
The US Secret Service just asked for my credential to enter the WH. As I told the officer, I don’t blame him. I know he’s just doing his job. (Sorry this video is not rightside up) pic.twitter.com/juQeuj3B9R
— Jim Acosta (@Acosta) November 8, 2018
After Trump’s Twitter fanbase began screaming that Acosta had assaulted the White House aide, it seems that the Trump administration decided to go with it. In a dramatic performance worthy of a Twitter Oscar, press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders issued tweets levying the accusations and berating CNN for standing behind their reporter.
‘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.’
This is a lie. https://t.co/FastFfWych
— Jim Acosta (@Acosta) November 8, 2018
Acosta finally grew angry enough to respond on Twitter to the obviously false accusations. To judge the exchange for yourself, see video below:
Featured image screenshot via YouTube
