Reporters defend CNN’s Acosta after White House says he ‘disrespected’ Trump with question

Members of the media defended CNN’s Jim Acosta after the White House accused him of “disrespecting” President Trump during a press conference on Friday.

White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders said Saturday that officials canceled a scheduled interview with the network and national security adviser John Bolton over the back-and-forth between Acosta and Trump.

CNN’s “State of the Union” host Jake Tapper tweeted earlier Saturday that the White House had intervened and canceled an interview scheduled for Sunday with Bolton, who “remains fully prepared to do the interview.”

But Sanders tweeted back at Tapper, saying that the White House canceled Bolton’s appearance because the administration did not want to reward “bad behavior.”

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“Actually a @CNN reporter disrespected @POTUS & PM May during their press [conference],” Sanders tweeted in response. “Instead of rewarding bad behavior, we decided to reprioritize the TV appearances for administration officials.”

Sanders was referring to Trump’s refusal to take questions from the network on Friday during an international press conference with British Prime Minister Theresa May.

Trump lashed out at CNN after reporter Jim Acosta tried to ask him a question.

“CNN is fake news. I don’t take questions from CNN,” Trump responded.

“Let’s go to a real network,” he added, giving a question to Fox News’s John Roberts.

“Well we’re a real network too, sir,” Acosta responded as Roberts began asking his question.

Trump then bragged on Twitter about his “takedown” of Acosta, falsely stating that CNN did not cover the altercation.

Journalists and media members were quick to point out that Acosta’s so-called bad behavior was asking a question.

“Come on,” Maggie Haberman of The New York Times tweeted. “All Acosta did was try to ask a question. Something that has taken place in previous administrations for, well, forever.”

Come on. All Acosta did was try to ask a question. Something that has taken place in previous administrations for, well, forever. https://t.co/MvTJIJUv6K

— Maggie Haberman (@maggieNYT) July 14, 2018

Acosta’s CNN colleague Brian Stelter pointed out that Acosta defended the network after Trump called it “fake news.”

“ ‘Disrespected?’ After Trump insulted CNN, Acosta said, ‘Mr. President, since you attacked CNN, can I ask you a question?’ Then Acosta said CNN is real, not fake. And that’s that,” Stelter tweeted.

“Disrespected?” After Trump insulted CNN, Acosta said, “Mr. President, since you attacked CNN, can I ask you a question?” Then Acosta said CNN is real, not fake. And that’s that. https://t.co/6M6RJTCyVO

— Brian Stelter (@brianstelter) July 14, 2018

Others defended Acosta, saying he was doing his job as a journalist.

This is the pettiest Administration I have ever seen. Acosta tried to ask a question and was denounced as a fake news network by the purported leader of the free world.

That Sanders continues to normalize it should be a stain on her reputation for the rest of her career. https://t.co/1OsB51yPJi

— Bradley P. Moss (@BradMossEsq) July 14, 2018

seriously think of the hypocrisy here – Putin and Kim have “disrespected” American lives, liberty, and security and the President and National Security Advisor reward them with meetings. @Acosta does his job and @PressSec @WhiteHouse punishes @CNN ?

— Sam Vinograd (@sam_vinograd) July 14, 2018

Acosta politely tried to ask a question to Trump (which is his job). Trump is speaking about Acosta when he calls the press “the enemy of the people,” “scum,” and a “stain on America.” And you’re saying it was Acosta who was disrespectful? Give us a break. You have no credibility https://t.co/JiPKD1pSXA

— Brian Klaas (@brianklaas) July 14, 2018

“Disrespected”… all Acosta did was try to ask a question https://t.co/FC7PnSkXTW

— Evan Rosenfeld (@Evan_Rosenfeld) July 14, 2018

Reporters are pushy – that’s our job. @Acosta was doing his. => https://t.co/Z9X2BkrAUT

— David M. Drucker (@DavidMDrucker) July 14, 2018

If @Acosta seeking permission to ask a question is disrespect, I’m wondering how this admin might calibrate a vast number of things @realDonaldTrump has said. https://t.co/ehjJS2RQnf

— Boris Sanchez (@Boris_Sanchez) July 14, 2018

Actually, Sarah, Acosta just asked a question- but your boss trashed PM May in the tabloids before he met her and then proceeded to be a huge creep. But keep lying. https://t.co/KGFnuXjFtm

— Justin Hendrix (@justinhendrix) July 14, 2018