Jim Acosta’s White House press pass has been pulled—and once again, we have a meltdown. From Acosta’s rants to CNN saying this is a threat to democracy, you’d think that the Trump White House tossed a Walter Cronkite-like reporter out onto the street. CNN’s Acosta is no Cronkite. What sparked his removal from the room? Acosta, President Trump’s favorite punching bag, got into a tense exchange about his rhetoric on immigration, specifically about the illegal alien caravan approaching the southern border. It devolved into a difference of opinion about the term "invasion," which the president has used to describe this caravan. Acosta obviously disagreed. Then, the fireworks began (via NBC News):
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 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 ??????
Trump began taking questions and called on Acosta, who tried to ask about the president's characterization of a migrant caravan of roughly 4,000 Central American immigrants who are walking through Mexico to claim asylum in the U.S.
Trump immediately interrupted Acosta as the journalist began to ask his question. "Here we go," Trump said to Acosta.
Acosta then challenged Trump's use 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 tried to take the microphone 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 lectern.
"CNN should be ashamed of itself having you working for them," Trump said. "You are a rude, terrible person. You shouldn't be working for CNN."
As you can see in the video, a White House aide tried to grab Acosta’s microphone away, but he refused to give it up. Apparently, to some on the Left, the aide is the one who committed assault and battery. One of these people is co-host of The View Sunny Hostin (via Washington Times):
REPORTER’S WHITE HOUSE CREDENTIALS SUSPENDED: Just when you thought the White House's relationship with the media couldn't get worse, yesterday's press conference happened — the co-hosts react to Pres. Trump's confrontation with CNN's Jim Acosta. https://t.co/OlR3TjWXeb pic.twitter.com/usPNGQ0tRy
— The View (@TheView) November 8, 2018
White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders said Mr. Acosta’s actions toward the woman were unacceptable, justifying the revocation by sharing a video of the moment. Mr. Acosta has denied assaulting the woman and accused the administration of trying to shut down CNN.
Ms. Hostin, a former federal prosecutor, said on Thursday’s episode of “The View” that the woman’s actions constituted battery.
“What I saw was a battery, not by Jim Acosta, but by the young White House aide,” she said.
Ms. Hostin gave an example that if she was holding a coffee cup, and then someone struck the cup, that would constitute battery because the cup “is an extension of me.”
“So you’re blaming the woman in this situation?” co-host Abby Huntsman fired back.
“That’s just the law,” Ms. Hostin replied. “I’m not assigning blame. I’m telling you what the law is.”
Are you freaking kidding me?
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