President Trump held a press conference in the aftermath of the 2018 midterms. He gave a lengthy overview of the races, said the GOP did pretty well, as Democrats didn’t have a wave year as they did in 2006—and then opened it up for questions. And here, again, is one of the reasons why Trump supporters love this man. The media was out of control. They’re antagonistic. They’re anti-Trump. And they hate him and his supporters. After decades of Republicans taking it from the elite Democrat-media bias, Trump answers back with uppercuts. And there is no better punching bag than CNN’s Jim Acosta. Acosta asked Trump about his rhetoric concerning the illegal alien horde that’s approaching or southern border. He also asked about the Russian investigation. The exchange was tense, which devolved into an outright ripping by Trump (via NBC News):
Here we go," Trump said to Acosta.
Acosta then challenged Trump's usage of the word "invasion" to describe the caravan and asked the president if he thought he had demonized immigrants. Trump then said he wanted immigrants to "come in legally."
When the president tried to go to another journalist, Acosta declined to give up the microphone and asked about possible indictments by special counsel Robert Mueller based on the ongoing investigation into Trump's presidential campaign.
Trump told Acosta to "put down the mic" and a White House staffer attempted to take the mic from the CNN correspondent but he wouldn't give it up.
Acosta finally relinquished the mic and sat down, but Trump then began to verbally berate him from the podium.
[...]
"CNN is fake news," Trump said. "I don't take questions from CNN."
I sat in the front row of today’s press conference.
— Ronna McDaniel (@GOPChairwoman) November 7, 2018
We all value a free press, but it’s unfortunate that some reporters seem more interested in getting their own cable show than doing their jobs.
The media grandstanding has gone overboard. https://t.co/n5S407SdYS
In contentious exchange on migrant caravan, Russian investigation, Pres. Trump tells CNN's Jim Acosta, "I think you should let me run the country, you run CNN...Put down the mic."
— ABC News (@ABC) November 7, 2018
Acosta's colleague defended him: "He's a diligent reporter." https://t.co/QF15MHrJt2 pic.twitter.com/6B1H7CDfVz
TRUMP SLAMS ACOSTA: "CNN should be ashamed of ifself having you working for them. You are a rude, terrible person." pic.twitter.com/tP73fgPtCv
— Breaking911 (@Breaking911) November 7, 2018
TRUMP TO ACOSTA:
— Jason Howerton (@jason_howerton) November 7, 2018
"CNN should be ashamed of itself having you working for them. You are a rude, terrible person, you shouldn't be working for CNN."
OMG ??????
Did @Acosta just shove a woman during the press conference so he could keep holding onto the microphone and talking? Incredible.
— Sean Davis (@seanmdav) November 7, 2018
Happening now. Open wrestling b/t Trump and the press.
— Lisa Desjardins (@LisaDNews) November 7, 2018
Started when Jim @Acosta pushed to get in another question (after back and forth w Trump) about Russia + the president asked him to sit down, allow another question. Acost kept on.
Ended, well, not sure it has ended yet.
That mic grab moment was something else pic.twitter.com/1rbzQ4WVmr
— Dave Brown (@dave_brown24) November 7, 2018
Pres told @acosta, "When you report 'fake news' - which CNN does a lot, you are the enemy of the people," and again demanded he sit down and stop asking questions.
— Mark Knoller (@markknoller) November 7, 2018
Wow. Jim Acosta refused to give up the mic even when a female staffer went to take it, yanking it back from her. Out of control. Trump is now truly pissed. Watch out.
— Eye on Politics (@EyeOnPolitics) November 7, 2018
After Acosta tried to lecture the president by telling him he doesn’t think the illegal alien caravan is an invasion, Trump said, "I think you should let me run the country, you run CNN...Put down the mic."
A White House aide tried to take the microphone away from Acosta, who wouldn’t give it up.
“CNN should be ashamed of itself having you working for them. You are a rude, terrible person; you shouldn’t be working for CNN," said the president, pointing right at Acosta. The president continued to excoriate Acosta saying how he treats his press secretary, Sarah Huckabee Sanders, in the press briefings is terrible.
“You shouldn’t treat people that way,” Trump said before turning to NBC’s Peter Alexander.
Alexander tried to defend Acosta, calling him a diligent reporter, which prompted Trump to say that he wasn’t a fan of Alexander either.
Get ready for another “dear diary” moment from Acosta soon, folks.