CNN’s Jim Acosta is becoming the story of the week. Well, at least one of them; the Trump White House is a flurry of activity. Acosta was at President Trump’s rally in Tampa, Florida on Tuesday, where supporters of the president heckled him. Yes, they chanted “CNN sucks.” Yes, a few middle fingers were thrown. So what? Suck it up. Acosta stayed and did his job, so at least he has the gumption to—you know—take a few punches. And he obviosuly wasn't in mortal danger because he did stay. The alleged abuse was patty cake stuff. It was no different than trash talking at a sports event. Still, never sacrificing an opportunity to be on television, Acosta said he felt he was no longer in America due to the heckling.
Just a sample of the sad scene we faced at the Trump rally in Tampa. I’m very worried that the hostility whipped up by Trump and some in conservative media will result in somebody getting hurt. We should not treat our fellow Americans this way. The press is not the enemy. pic.twitter.com/IhSRw5Ui3R
— Jim Acosta (@Acosta) August 1, 2018
WATCH: Supporters of President Trump Chant ‘CNN Sucks’ During Jim Acosta’s Live Spot at Florida Rally pic.twitter.com/2fwQQRVsQf
— Breaking911 (@Breaking911) July 31, 2018
Yesterday, he got into a tense exchange with White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders, where he demanded the administration declare that the press isn’t the enemy of the people. When she did not give the answer he was looking for, he said he left the press briefing room.
I walked out of the end of that briefing because I am totally saddened by what just happened. Sarah Sanders was repeatedly given a chance to say the press is not the enemy and she wouldn't do it. Shameful.
— Jim Acosta (@Acosta) August 2, 2018
“I walked out of the end of that briefing because I am totally saddened by what just happened,” he said. “Sarah Sanders was repeatedly given a chance to say the press is not the enemy and she wouldn’t do it.”
He also suggested that journalists chant that outside of the White House. That was met with a collective eyeroll. And even some former hosts of networks, like MSNBC, are calling out Acosta for his antics. Dave Shuster, who is now managing editor for i24NEWS, tweeted, that not only is Acosta giving the Trump White House another win, he’s hurting journalism.
“Hey Jim @acosta, the job of a true journalist is not to be sad or happy by what happens in a press briefing room,” Shuster tweeted. “It is to ask questions and report facts about what was said/not said. Your feelings, antics, + self promotion are hurting journalism, not helping it. Enough.”
Hey Jim @acosta, the job of a true journalist is not to be sad or happy by what happens in a press briefing room. It is to ask questions and report facts about what was said/not said. Your feelings, antics, + self promotion are hurting journalism, not helping it. Enough. https://t.co/J1sO8enSBz
— David Shuster (@DavidShuster) August 3, 2018
So you think the others who stayed in the briefing room were being un-american? Many journalists are sick of being lied to and insulted. But they have the guts and integrity to stay there, report the facts, + not become part of the story. @acosta gave #trump a victory today. https://t.co/OB5XY6yFgJ
— David Shuster (@DavidShuster) August 3, 2018
He won’t. Despite being a whipping boy for this administration, Acosta will probably continue to be the Trump White House’s favorite punching bag, serving them easy wins, and become exhibit A in demonstrating how this president is always two steps ahead, especially when it’s CNN.
Do you think these shenanigans would be drastically reduced if cameras were removed from the press breifing room?
Again: Cameras need to be taken out of the WH press briefings per the original proposal by McCurry (Clinton press sec'y) & Fleischer (Bush press sec'y). The only news emerging from these briefings involves confrontation and almost nothing involving substance. This is all a show. https://t.co/PezrdGzvf9
— Joe Concha (@JoeConchaTV) August 2, 2018