CNN’s Acosta: There’s Been an ‘Erosion of Our Freedoms in Terms of Covering the President’
CNN Senior White House correspondent Jim Acosta once again went after President Trump and the White House for holding off-camera briefings, this time warning about the “erosion” of press freedoms.
Today’s briefing was off-camera, and just like on previous days, Acosta was not happy about it. He first made his feelings known on Twitter:
Sarah Huckabee Sanders taking questions from reporters at WH briefing. Video of this has been banned by the USA. pic.twitter.com/DnErI7zudG
— Jim Acosta (@Acosta) June 28, 2017
My q to SHS which she refused to take: "isn't holding a fundraiser at the Trump hotel rather swamp-like?" (So I'm sharing with you…enjoy!)
— Jim Acosta (@Acosta) June 28, 2017
I attempted to ask this question as SHS left briefing room. WH near-total refusal to take briefing q's from CNN is becoming common practice. https://t.co/mZMk97hT73
— Jim Acosta (@Acosta) June 28, 2017
Sadly, you won't be able to watch this moment on-camera as video coverage of today's briefing was outlawed by WH.. er I mean.. the USA. https://t.co/jylDF8MNpY
— Jim Acosta (@Acosta) June 28, 2017
On The Situation Room hours later, after conceding that some of the coverage “can get a little too negative sometimes,” Acosta said that this happens with every administration and then added the following:
“What we’re witnessing right now is just this erosion of our freedoms in terms of covering the President of the United States. The President has only held one full news conference since the beginning of his administration. That was in February. That’s way behind the average of other presidents in modern times.”
American Conservative Union Chairman Matt Schlapp got into it with Acosta a bit, with Schlapp saying that “your freedoms are not being denied” just because the White House makes a judgment about how the press briefings are conducted.
American Urban Radio Networks White House Correspondent April Ryan also weighed in to talk about the importance of not just hearing what the President and top officials have to say, but the ability to see them saying it.
Watch above, via CNN.
[image via screengrab]
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