ABC’s Jon Karl Confronts Bolton Over White House Pulling His CNN Interview: Is That Appropriate?

During a lengthy interview previewing the Russia summit and addressing the special counsel indictments, ABC News’ Jon Karl took a moment to ask John Bolton about the White House’s war with CNN.

The White House national security advisor was supposed to be on with Jake Tapper this morning, but after that confrontation between Trump and Jim Acosta at the President’s UK press conference, the White House yanked Bolton from CNN. (Tapper told his audience this morning that Bolton was “prepared to do the interview.”)

On This Week today, Karl first asked Bolton about Trump’s attacks on the press in general and how it contributes to the environment wherein dictators like Putin actually repress free speech.

Bolton responded, “I think the question’s silly.”

Karl then brought up the CNN kerfuffle and asked, “Is it really appropriate to deny a news organization access to a White House official because a reporter tried to ask a question at a press conference?”

“In reality, I don’t seek out the press, I don’t talk to them,” Bolton responded, “I appear when I’m asked to, and if I’m not asked to appear, I don’t do it. And I don’t communicate with them either, as you could find out if you consulted your friends in the Washington press corps whom I don’t communicate with.”

Watch above, via ABC.

[image via screengrab]

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Follow Josh Feldman on Twitter: @feldmaniac

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