Speaking at the White House Friday afternoon, President Trump warned he will end press conferences earlier if decorum among reporters is not kept.
"People have to behave. We're writing up rules and regulations," Trump said. "I think you were treated very unfairly. Both of you. Because you had somebody interrupting you. With the rules and regulations, we will end up back in court and we will win."
"Decorum. You can't take three questions and four questions. You can't stand up and not sit down," he continued. "We want total freedom of the press. It's more important to me than anybody would believe. But you have to act with respect when you're at the White house, and when I see the way some of my people get treated at news conferences, it's terrible. So we're setting up a certain standard, which is what the court is requesting. We always have the option of leaving and the other media and press in the room won't be happy."
His comments came shortly after a federal judge ruled the White House must immediately reinstate the press credential for CNN's Jim Acosta.
Statement from CNN and @Acosta on today’s ruling: “We are gratified with this result and we look forward to a full resolution in the coming days. Our sincere thanks to all who have supported not just CNN, but a free, strong and independent American press.”
— CNN Communications (@CNNPR) November 16, 2018
Acosta was banished from the White House last week after he gave a monologue, refused to give up the microphone and physically pushed away the arm of an intern.
“Today, the court made clear there is no absolute right to access the White House. In response to the court, we will temporarily reinstate the reporter’s hard pass. We will also further develop rules and processes to ensure fair and orderly press conferences in the future. There must be decorum in the White House,” White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders said about the ruling.
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