Will CNN recuse itself from covering the WhiteHouse until the lawsuit is concluded? If not, can they provide fair and unbiased coverage for a party they a suing? I hope they will will disclose the suit each time they report on the White House.
This recusal question was not mine. I heard it on a morning radio show and believe it raises an issue worthy of thought.
1
All the other journalists in the room, for the sake of retaining the dignity of their profession, need to walk out en masse the next time Trump treats them so shabbily. And he might, maybe, learn a lesson if no one shows up at his next "press conference".
1
What should they do when a reporter monopolizes a press conference in spite on direction that his/her slot is past over taking time likely intended for other reporters?
With Trump giving a 90 minute press conference and then answering questions outside the Helicopter the next day, can we acknowledge that he provides far more access to the office of President than his predecessor?
3
I studied journalism in college and have had a long career in network television. What is going on with the media now is despicable. The war is not with the media. The war is with the falsehoods that the media presents. If the media could be relied upon to be unbiased and tell the truth, then there wouldn't be a problem, but they can not. If what you are saying is not the truth, then you are phony. If what you are saying is not true, what you are doing is not critique, but propaganda.
5
Trump initiates a politician assaulting a reporter because he didn't like the questions being asked. They is an assault on the First Amendment by POTUS.
Trump calls the press the enemy of the people, just like other dictators who murdered their critics starting with the press, throughout the 20th century.
The entire While House Press Corp should join this suit (as friends of the court if not more).
3
I hereby declare Jim Acosta the Don Quixote of Journalism. A small man with an elevated sense of importance tilting at windmills.
1
This isn't about the 1st or 5th Amendments nor is it about the reporters questions, it's about decorum. CNN can twist it any way they like, but a reporter gets one question, not ten. It is clear that the intern tried to take the microphone back and the reporter pushed her hand away. The reporter deserved what he got.
3
Ironically, the video at the top of this article is "doctored" to remove Mr. Acosta's struggle with the White House Internet over the Mic. That's the key moment, and that is the key reason why the White House has chosen to take away his press privileges. For those who care, go look up the original video on YouTube and watch it. Don't rely on the New York Times for accurate reporting here, as the video is entirely misleading at the top of this article.
1
While I'm terrified by Trump's actions and find it a repulsive perversion of the spirit, if not the legal interpretation, of the First Amendment, I'm almost more terrified by this suit. Given the current makeup of the court, there is a very real prospect that a disturbing and dangerous precedent can be set.
As has been mentioned, CNN still has reporters with access, and Acosta did refuse to return a microphone. If Acosta has an individual right to a press pass, then I want one, too. And if the press staff is unable to control conversational flow, then press conferences would never end.
Placing this case into the hands of the courts gives the justices an opportunity to legitimize presidential power of censorship. It could be a simple ruling that's dismissed quickly for one of those two (or both) reasons. It could also open the door to a more extensive ruling empowering the President to strictly control access, and embolden a man who has shown no respect for the Fifth Estate, potentially leading to greater dictatorial control.
14
Like it or not, a WH press conference is not "The Acosta Show". He is not in charge, he is there as a representative of his news organization and needs to defer to requests made of him during those news conferences. This was a formal press conference and there are generally accepted rules of conduct.
Mr Acosta needs to get with the program, perhaps sending a delegate instead instead of trying to attend himself.
22
@Margo
By "get with the program," I take it you mean give this administration softball questions? Or literally follow the administration's lead, their program of disinformation and bald lying? Sounds like the path to reputable journalism. Sigh
12
"This was a formal press conference and there are generally accepted rules of conduct."
BT Dubs, it's not really a rule if it's just something people have agreed to do out of convention. It may be courtesy or a norm, though. I'm just thinking, is there anyone in the White House who's defied a great number of norms recently? I'm thinking of someone who's been elected to represent everyone in the US. LMK if you need a hint.
4
Let's just be glad we still live in a country where a news organization CAN sue the government. If Trump got (gets?) his way we might not.
1
CNN is way off base here. Jim Acosta is incorrigible and should be sent to Reform School like other bad children are. If he represents CNN then CNN is in deep trouble. Like a spoiled child who didn't get his way. How immature can he be before someone pts him in his place. CNN doesn't appear to have the integrity do discipline clearly bad reporters. Now you know!
1
Jim Acosta does not report the news, his role is to just to disagree with this administration. CNN has become a tabloid station. There business model is also just criticize the administration. Let Acosta remain at the white house. Just don't call on him, maybe he will fad away.....
1
Yes, this must be addressed, but what does it say when a television network and news media can achieve an emergency hearing within 36 hours? Are you kidding - people wait years. Our priorities are upside down; clearly CNN is not without resources to substitute. Look at the windfall of attn and viewers (i.e., money) this is netting. I wonder what the REAL aim is and expect that the 'violated rights' here are primarily tied to dollars vs. rights.
1
Yes the suit has merit or did you forget the First Amendment language, " the right of any CNN White House correspondent to argue with the President, swat away interns, keep and bear microphones, and have a permanent press pass shall not be infringed."
1
"Ms. Sanders made no mention of her original claim that Mr. Acosta had reacted inappropriately with the intern." Will the judges look at the doctored video" If so I want to see this court trial on main stream TV as I don't get cable.
1
My fear is that this case will be appealed all the way to the Supreme Court, which will decide 5-4 that journalism is a capital crime. There is nothing to stop them from doing so and no indication that Trump would object to such a ruling. He’s got his base so riled up they’d happily come to see public hangings of anyone who has dared to challenge him. I wish I were exaggerating or being hysterical but our president has declared the press the enemy of the people and history tells us that when the leader of a country repeatedly says things like that casualties follow.
4
As a person who has suffered from childhood abuse incidents, I find the hostility between the press and the administration extremely anxiety-producing. This destabilization of norms of behavior affects those of us who are sensitive due to prior traumas. I witnessed as a child many contentious arguments and fighting between my parents, and seeing conflicts and fights between people played out on a daily basis in the media is just making me re-live all that. It creates great anxiety in me. It does not inform or help me; it just re-traumatizes me. Jim Acosta seems always trying to pick a fight, and blame, interrogate, hector people, and even get physical with them. He is a provocateur. It's as if the media has issued a fatwa on the government. All these attacks on the administration and the voters worries me. It's gone way too far and has no benefit.
3
Hopefully clips of Trump's rallies berating the press and CNN in particular as well as things like Trump's infantile tweet of his name on a train about to run over CNN on the tracks, will be submitted as evidence on behalf of the network. As well as the pipe bombs.
4
I first make the disclaimer that I am a former partner of Gibson Dunn and Ted Olson. While the article notes that Mr. Olson was solicitor general under George W. Bush, it fails to note that Mr. Olson was lead counsel for Mr. Bush in Bush v Gore and that Mr. Olson successfully argued Bush v Gore in the US Supreme Court. It speaks volumes about Trump's conduct that Mr. Olson would take this case on behalf of CNN. If the case winds up in the US Supreme Court, then CNN could not possibly have better representation.
3
Hard to tell if the White house is more like InfoWars or if InfoWars is more like the White House. Not even trump's FOX likes Acosta's dismissal. Trump, and a few bad men like him can't handle the truth from A Few Good Men - especially a few good journalists.
Jim Acosta, like all journalists at the WH represent the people and their right to know what THEIR government is doing. By kicking Acosta out, we lost one of our representatives challenging this lying thief our my behalf. Trump hates that one of our representatives is holding him to account.
Trump's lies have become the cult mantra of the base and there is no slapping them to their senses. Who knew the Manchurian candidate was actually the Manchurian voter - millions of them that form trump's Manchurian base. Why should we care what this zombie-like trump-Manchurian-base thinks.
Any company looking to hire a spokesperson and wants to instantly lose any credibility whatsoever in the market can hire Sara Sanders when she becomes available. I'm sure there are plenty of ponzi scheme or patent scam companies that could benefit from her expertise at lying.
Acosta should bring his own microphone next time!
A judge nominated last year by President Trump, approved by the Senate now taking the case - what are the chances? It will be harder and harder to avoid non-trump appointed judges for the media to rely on.
4
I'm so glad the NYT covers this. I hope so much CNN is successful with this trial, because here in Germany - in the light of the rise of the right-wing AfD - we need some moral encouragement...
5
I laugh every time Acosta takes the mic because I know he'll ask an obnoxious question just to annoy Trump. It reminds me of one of Howard Stern's guys calling up Larry King and saying "Baba booey." That's his job though, to bother Trump--to keep Trump on the proverbial line for as long as he possibly can until Trump hangs up the metaphorical phone.
Now, if I were President, I'd get a restraining order against Acosta, and then give him his press pass back.
1
Bravo CNN- proud of your action. The corrupt con man pathological liar child bully forgets that he is “elected” by the people. He is not running his private business joint venture with Russian oligarchs. Neither he is the king of our nation. A tyrrant by nature, the ego maniac leaves in a dream world full of narcissism. Free press is the basic foundation of any democracy in the world. Of course, he loves to rule like Vladimir, who helped him to steal the election in 2016. Con man’s attitude towards journalists is pathetic.
2
It seems more likely that someone in the Trump family had intended to short the stock for CNN’s parent company than that the reporter himself presented any threat.
Trump has only had 2 press conferences and neither have gone well. I am sure he only had the press conference in order to find another scapegoat.
He does little enough work, and most of it seems to involve enriching his cohorts.
4
I didn’t know I had a right under the Constitution to attend White House press conferences
6
Enough! Trump’s hypocrisy knows no bounds. This is a man-child who bragged about grabbing women without consent on their crotch. Basically, Trump admitted to sexual assault and now he goes after Jim Acosta with lies of physical assault? C’MON!
6
Trump and Sarah Sanders should be grateful they live in the United States and not in Iraq.
Remember the Iraqi journalist who threw first one shoe than a second shoe at President G.W. Bush at a press conference?
In the Iraq incident the journalist, Muntazer Zaidi, threw the first shoe at Bush during a news conference, yelling "this is a farewell kiss from the Iraqi people, dog." Then he yelled, "This is for the widows and orphans and all those killed in Iraq," he added as he threw the second shoe. The journalist was subsequently jailed.
President Bush ducked the shoes, and later quipped that the shoe was a size 10. Imagine President Trump defusing such an incident with humor??
This is a custom in some countries, although Zaidi was briefly jailed.
Footnote: In 2018, Zaidi ran for parliament in Iraq.
https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/journalist-who-threw-shoes-bush-running-office-iraq-n870656
Never hire a U.S. president or the president's press secretary who does not have a sense of humor--or a president with delusions of grandeur, who acts like a tyrant and has no clue why we have laws and expect civility in our political leaders.
6
To me, it looked as if the intern was the aggressor. She was grabbing at the microphone. I applaud CNN for standing up to Trump.
10
Finally...
4
Watching the video, even in slow motion, shows that the aggressor was the intern! Does that mean we arrest her for initiating an assault on the reporter? I wonder what the "take" on this incident would have been if the intern had been a male. Would it be that the reporter is simply defending himself against an aggressive person? Could we have arrested Trump for inciting an assault?
Something to think about.
10
The White House Correspondents Association criticized Acosta’s removal. And that’s it? Brings to mind Republicans in the Senate; a mildly critical comment of the president now and then, but then they fall in line.
How can any of these reporters criticize the Republican Senate from now on- it appears they do the same. Anything for a press pass. This president seems to....affect...everyone he touches.
3
Praying that Donald decides to pull his signature move and counterpunch, fighting the suit.
Wouldn't the discovery be just glorious? The whole cast of characters under oath, being deposed. We could find out why Jared was skulking and smirking at the back of the room. We could see Sarah Huckabee Sanders wrestle with the dilemma of actually telling the truth for the first time since she accepted a job in the White House or committing perjury. We could find out who ordered the reality show setup.
And if he doesn't fold like the bully boy that he is, just imagine the headline when CNN owns Donald.
5
Trump would fail miserably. Everyone knows he's a malignant narcissitic pathological liar. He set out to bait the Press for a confrontation to change the narrative about his "victory" other wise known to all the rest of the world who are not delusional, his 'shellacking' in the midterms. And he is still covering his ears refusing to hear, We The People have spoken. We do not like the divisiveness, chaos and confusion coming out of the White House. Do better - but he can not.
4
Should we really care about optics when so much is at stake?
This is incredibly important for free speech. If you can't see that you shouldn't be voting.
I cannot think of a nicer way of wording it.
A free press is not free if it is punished for asking questions. You may not like the question. And the guy at the podium can duck the answer. But not allowing the question is fascism.
9
Mr. Trump. Your not Presidential so I’ll not cite you as such.
Mr President...you are the ENEMY of the people, and you know that.
So, I’m not really addressing you either.
I addressing the PEOPLE of our Republic to please recognize the
reality of who you voted for.
The enemy of this country is the Republican Trump administration.
Pay attention to what is happening.
6
Trump is a Narcissist of the first water. He has an exaggerated need for love and admiration from others. He is obsessed with his own self-importance and he completely lacks any empathy or sympathy for other people. He deeply resents and despises ANYONE who calls his behavior to question or who gives the appearance of disagreeing with him. He does not like being asked to explain himself, the things he does and says because he believes that there is no person more intelligent or capable than he. He believes that the sole job of the Fourth Estate is to make him look good, to "kiss his feet, and NOT to shine a light on his deficiencies. Any reporter who dares to actually do his or her job is demeaned, maligned and insulted. It must never, ever be revealed that the Emperor is prancing about in the nude.
Acosta was very clearly slandered and libeled. April Ryan, Abby Phillips, Yamiche Alcindor and others have also been needlessly disrespected and scornfully abused for asking pointed, tough, yet intelligent questions.
This lawsuit is appropriate and long overdue.
11
Not sure why CNN is so angry. They made Trump president.
3
I am no legal expert, but Trump has not banned CNN altogether, just Acosta. So is it possible that this issue is being over magnified? Acosta is just one person out of many reporters that work at CNN.
10
@Jeff
In a word, NO -- It's not being "over magnified" because as a representative of an accredited news organization, Mr. Acosta is part of the Press which is protected under the 1st Amendment to the Constitution.
13
The bias in the press is so obvious it’s ridiculous. Did they ever treat Obama this way?
8
They didn’t treat Obama this way because Obama was not a racist.
9
@M - Did Obama ever behave like Trump?
10
@M
Silly analogy. Obama never treated the press the same way Trump does.
12
Ban Trump from the White House is the only sensible retort.
18
This entire episode with Jim Acosta may have been set up by Trump.
He never chooses Acosta to ask a question, and that rude intern seemed to run and grab the mic as if on cue.
Also, did anyone else notice that all the journalists Trump picks on are either Hispanic, African-American or women (he especially preys on African-American women.)
Trump is a racist, bigot and misogynist.
10
"First Amendment rights" to harass at will when by invitation?Hundreds of other news organizations would like access, but aren't there. So their First Amendment rights are violated, too? Pshaw.
This is just another CNN hate-Trump sideshow, and nothing more, besides, of course, Acosta assaulting a young woman working in the White House. Lucky charges weren't pressed and found himself in jail overnight.
Point of fact: CNN can allege or claim anything they want--surfboard wax and fried eggs too. That doesn't mean much unless a court finds in their favor. Perhaps Lenin's Bay Area 9th Circuit clerics might be the best choice for CNN's DNC Politburo advocate and alleged "reporter".
7
CNN went off the boil some time ago, I'm afraid, around the time it started lining up what seems like a dozen or so (largely partisan and unqualified) panellists for every discussion. If everyone stopped trying to pump up every single idiotic thing this administration does into a national emergency, we might have some room to see what's really going on.
8
Trump was whining about the "lack of respect" of reporters in his WH, which he called "a very sacred place to me".
Before that Trump called his sacred WH "a dump".
So that happened.
15
Go CNN! Someone has to step up while this nationalist & his cronies wear away at first amendment rights.
9
"A hearing on the lawsuit was set for Wednesday at 3:30 p.m. The judge in the case is Timothy J. Kelly, who was nominated last year by President Trump..."
This is also a test for Trump's judiciary and whether they can exercise any independence. I have little faith in any of these judges who have been installed in the last two years.
6
The press has not been performing its due diligence for the American people. Instead of analysis, we get opinion. Instead of reporting, we get mimicry. This is because broadcast news is a poor substitute for substantive investigation of the issues the people should be informed about. Instead, we have to spend our precious free time, when we’re not working in indentured servitude, finding accurate sources of information to base our opinions on. Or we can just take the easy route and have our opinions spoon fed to us by CNN or Fox News, whatever your preference. Jim Acosta vs Trump is a distraction with an outcome that will not affect the American people in any way when viewed by the telescopic lens of history. Instead, why aren’t we hearing about lawsuits with merit? Or about those without power who can’t even file lawsuits when they have better cause to do so? I’ll leave it to the reporters to investigate and expose these.
9
This is not a trivial issue as you allege. There’s a central key issue here. Does the president get to decide who reports what?
8
@Yves But if trump can quash reporters who ask tough questions about Presidential behavior and the things that the President has said and done, where is the merit in any of the press? One of the primary things any fascist government does FIRST is end freedom of the press and media. Then powerless people are well and truly lost!
As a woman who publishes one of our local newspapers has rightfully said, we MUST "Insist on Justice for Your Fellow Man; You Will Be Next."
3
Obviously, this will end up as a court case: CNN vs. The White House. And if the White House loses, as it likely will, then US taxpayers will have to cover the litigation costs.
Has anybody actually kept score on just how much money American taxpayers may wind up paying to cover this administration's endless legal hassles and transgressions?
8
It's clear Acosta made physical contact with his forearm against the Intern's forearm. You don't have to knock somebody down to constitute assault. Hand it over to the cops and let them make the decision, that's there business.
7
dbrum990,
Acosta was very polite to the intern who rudely tried to yank the mic from him. He said, "excuse me ma'am".
He didn't assault her. She almost assaulted him.
5
@dbrum990: Yes, It's clear from the video that the intern assaulted Acosta by awkwardly trying to wrestle the microphone from him while he was asking a question.
3
@dbrum990 Here is the ACTUAL video, NOT THE DOCTORED ONE. According to legal experts, THE INTERN actually assaulted Acosta when she tried to snatch the microphone first. His reaction was a mere reflex. This shows clearly that the video was doctored.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8TSpgB0QS0g
https://www.vox.com/2018/11/8/18074966/sarah-sanders-infowars-cnn-jim-acosta-banned
3
Thus far the Press have exhibited the POWER of the 1st Amendment that congress was so wimpish and derelict in their duty to do; holding the executive office accountable and in the light.
Thank you Press! Thank you Mr. Acosta!
Trump hates that he can't control, manipulate, bully, shut upt, shut down the press. He only wants to hear his OWN voice echoed back at him.
Moreover his ignorant vilification of the press has put press and media members in danger with threat of assault and death. Not to mention his radicalization of the borderline mentally conpromised among us..the bomb guy isn't the only one out there. And every day Trumps mouth is feeding the next wave...
But the cold dangerous truth is he does not care, really, malignant narcissist are incapable of empathy.
It is the mouth of a fool that incites violence, divisiveness and chaos in the land flowing with milk and honey...
8
Acosta wasn't asking a question he was arguing with him and frankly, his claim that Trump "demonizes immigrants" is stupid, considering Trump's wife is an immigrant.
Finally, yes we need a free press. We also need order and procedure. Pushing away a female intern who is trying to maintain that order is unacceptable. As is, by the way shouting out rhetorical questions to Kim of North Korea and Trump after their summit.
A free press, is incompatible with recalcitrant children, such as Acosta, who turn every event he is at into a circus.
Correspondents, are professionals, and with that comes responsibility. If a cop abuses their gun, they should lose their job. If a correspond abuses his press badge, it must be revoked
8
James:
Take a refresher course in logic. The fact that Melania is an immigrant has no bearing on whether Trump demonizes other immigrants. In fact, he clearly does. It’s like saying someone who has a pet dog couldn’t be abusive to dogs generally.
4
Acosta was asked to sit down by the President of the USA, whether you like him or not. Acosta did not even though the President went on to another question, Acosta kept interrupting. As far as I am concerned he should be banned for life from the White House for his rude behavior.
9
@wmccollum
What column are you putting Trump's "body slam" comments about hitting a journalist being his kind of behavior :
"Irony"? "Do as I say"? "Rude"?
2
Good for CNN! If all of the media would just stop reporting anything humpty trumpty says, we would all be better off. Lower blood pressures, less stress, better sleep patterns; all because we would not have to listen to that whiny voice or see the ever present sneer! Please, let’s give it a one week trial, anyway!
9
We have the rudest narcissist I have ever seen in the White House. I am EMBARRASSED beyond belief.
9
Trump took an oath to "protect and defend the Constitution of the United States." Clearly he broke that oath by having Acosta banned. What in the world does it take to get rid of Trump????!!!
9
It's trump first again, Americans last
3
“The White House cannot run an orderly and fair press conference when a reporter acts this way, which is neither appropriate nor professional,” Ms. Sanders wrote."
They can't run an orderly or fair press conference when the person behind the podium "acts this way" either.
The road of appropriate, professional, courteous and mannerly runs both ways. I won't even get into respect since in my opinion no one in the White House deserves any.
10
The bully Acosta must not be allowed back in the White House. Thank you.
7
@Southern Boy
And why is that? -- Because there's not enough room for two bullies in the White House?
5
Let's see....Ted Olson against Trump...
Yup - Trump is sweating....
2
Acosta was rude and disrespectful. He is a grandstander who is just looking to aggrandize himself. He doesn't deserve to have White House press access.
7
These press conferences or briefings are poorly managed and Trump could do a better job of controlling his emotions and not allowing himself to be side-tracked. Why does an intern have to take the mic from anyone? Trump should have a mute button to control the mic. He also shouldn't engage in a back and forth with any reporter who speaks out of turn. That entire briefing was amateurish, surely the White House can do better.
6
@Lynn in DC - Agree. The press conference looked like a noisy townhall meeting. Reporters giving opinions and Trump firing back. No quality questions on policies or issues. A news event at its best. He needs to get a handle on running it.
3
@Lynn in DC
The White House has had over two years to "do better".
Guess what? -- It's not happening.
6
Or, CNN could just cover the news without the point of view of the White House included. Trump and Sanders mostly lie and spin anyway,
So, just leave the White House's arguments out of all discussions on CNN.
If the White House wants its point of view represented, all they would have to do is let Jim Acosta back in.
3
This is an opportunity for CNN and the rest of the White House press corps. The opportunity to wean themselves off this administration’s daily feed of propaganda, distortion and outright lies. The opportunity to put 100% of journalistic resources into the rigorous work of investigative reporting, cultivating inside sources from executive level to agency employees.
Press releases and news conferences may have some value, but they’re manipulative, self-serving and the laziest form of journalism. There should be a penalty the Trump White House pays for demonizing the press and degrading the daily briefing ritual. Losing the ear of the press at these clown shows would be a fitting and much deserved sanction.
3
Attacking the press as this White House has done repeatedly is a reprehensible and dangerous act. Even so, a press pass is a privilege, not a right.
4
“Supporters of Mr. Trump, though, are likely to seize on the lawsuit as evidence for the president’s claim that news organizations, especially CNN, are biased against him”.
Of course they are tilted against President Turmoil. They just do not like or respect him. I can understand why. However, professionalism requires an even handed approach even to this creep and CNN, for one, does not offer this approach. CNN is besmirching the profession.
4
The press can and should ask the President tough (and even hostile) questions. That’s called “good reporting.”
Jim Acosta is not interested in good reporting. He’s interested in doing whatever obnoxious tricks he can get away with to stay in the limelight. In my household we call that an “attention craver.” Very few people knew who Acosta was before Trump, and now he’s a household name. Is that fame from good reporting or press conference stunts?
Neither the press nor CNN is impeaded in any way by the revocation of Acosta’s credentials. CNN has 40+ other reporters with WH access. And it isn’t like President Trump won’t continue to receive tough (and hostile) questions from the press. The President has a right to maintain order at his press conferences, and I do believe that barring Acosta will help with that.
7
This case is the very definition of frivolous. No court possesses the power to tell the POTUS whom he must admit to his press conferences. Period.
9
More people should study the constitution. This is just another fake event created by CNN who like many continue to reject the 2016 election results and have sworn to de-legitimize the President.
Since when attending a press conference become a right given by constitution? CNN and Acosta continue to run the ‘death to Trump Presidency’ panels 24x7. There is no violation of freedom of press. There is no investigation in the Press members like the previous President did. No cases, no prison, so just do your job from your desk, no privilege of being there. It is not a right, but was a privilege at personal level. He lost it.
Acosta was arguing with Trump as usual with his opinion and had no real question. He adds little journalistic value anyway.
This may curtail the access other press members have and ask quality questions.
7
Sue him personally for $100billion
1
@Adam Stoleriy Stormy Daniels got 130K for keeping quiet. How much will Acosta get for shouting at the President?
If Acosta is viewed as one who grandstands, then we need more who grandstand. He is among the few journalists who refuse to be publicly bullied. Good for CNN.
Trump must be confronted in every context. He is a malignancy on our nation.
9
This is all a setup. Trump didn't have to call on Acosta. He did so to cause a confrontation in order to deflect from the thorough beating he took in the midterm election!
3
An easy way to regain the WH press pass would be for CNN to continue to cover the WH but specifically refuse to use WH photo op video of Trump. That would be a response he would care about.
2
Sue sue sue the Trump administration for everything.
Surely one day someone will win one of those lawsuits.
9
Bravo for the Press, for CNN, for the citizens
The Press is trying to navigate a most bizarre situation. They are trying to show respect for the office of the President when the holder of that office has failed to earn that respect. Legal action is an appropriate and directed response.
The next actions must be:
(1) pursue the same questioning, by multiple members of the Press until a thoughtful, honest, and knowledgeable answer is provided; demand answers
(2) skip the tweets
(3) avoid questioning the President as he is about the depart on the helicopter paid for by the citizens. The venue generally prevents broadcasting the questions and the answers are never thoughtful. The less we see of the off-the-cuff Trump the better off the country is. It would be a pleasure seeing him in court where the answers are measured and where they count.
16
Good for CNN! This President needs to be checked, balanced, and held accountable. The Senate won't do it, so I'm glad the 4th Estate is stepping up.
30
I hope CNN and Mr. Acosta win big on this one.
It’s time for someone in the Trump maligned press to stand up to this bully, liar, and ridiculous President.
Play this one to win. Trump will drag out anything to prevail. Be brave mainstream media. Now you’re fighting for all Americans to hear the real truth.
27
I'm sorry, but if the NYTimes is going to continue to say that the claim that Acosta "put his hands" on the intern is false, then they are producing textbook fake news. There is indisputable photographic evidence that Acosta batted away her arm, a move which is inappropriate, unprofessional, and unacceptable. Acosta is a belligerent showboat and CNN should just replace him with a competent reporter and put the whole issue to rest. If he was just asking tough questions I would be in his corner, but manhandling interns and belligerently refusing to cede the floor is not acceptable behavior for a professional journalist in the White House.
24
Er, which video did you watch?
7
@Gary Gary, you are absolutely correct. I watched this press conference and he did bat the interns arm away from taking the microphone. Jim Acosta is a rude individual trying to make a name for himself as a tough reporter but is only making himself look like an idiot.
The frame that the Times used in their original story was inaccurate and used only to try and make a case for CNN but instead proved the case for fake news.
Being part of the White House press core is a privilege not a right. The lawsuit only proves that CNN is a second rate news organization.
6
@Gary: That video was doctored. He did not place his hands on the intern.
4
"Ms. Sanders made no mention of her original claim that Mr. Acosta had reacted inappropriately with the intern." Not surprising, since the lie is very transparent. " 'The question is: did the reporter make contact or not? The video is clear, he did. We stand by our statement,' [Sanders] said." Typical twisting of the facts by Ms. Sanders. Contact was made, yes, instigated by the White House aide on an unsuspecting reporter, who simply acted reflexively. To imply that this was some sort of aggressive move by the reporter is beyond disgusting. Especially given the obvious tampering in Ms. Sanders' version of the video. Ms. Sanders is fully committed to this administration's attempted propaganda ploys.
13
So let me get this straight: Fake president Snowflake can't handle getting tough questions from a reporter, but is supposed to be able to 'lead' the greatest nation on Earth against all enemies?
If you are still for him now, we may be forced to leave you behind too...
14
Stop, stop, stop with “the administration claimed falsely that ...”. Why not “the administration advanced the lie that...”?
14
Acosta sees himself as an antagonist, not a reporter.
His basic question phraseology goes something like:
“Mr. President, Rosie O’Donnell has said that you are a racist. Can you confirm or deny you are a racist.”
With the stupidity of his questions, he moves national discourse backwards.
Trump should ban CNN totally until they can find themselves a reporter.
19
@Ken
No. Are you kidding?
What Acosta asked was why Trump was characterizing a migrant caravan in Mexico as "an imminent invasion" of the US.
Apparently this president cannot weather this too-tough question without blowing a gasket. THAT is what is stupid. Cue the octopus lady to grab the mic.
No media outlet can give Trump the soft diet for people with no teeth that he so desperately needs.
7
@Kay Johnson
On the immigrant question they are more creative.
Mr. President, your characterization of the poor, poor, innocent refugees fleeing rape and violence as an invasion implies you are racist and hate all immigrants. Can you confirm or deny your racist hatred of all immigrants?
1
I think the three black female reporters ought to come up with some kind of lawsuit against this racist misogynist.
It's so obvious that he's afraid of women, all women, but especially black women.
He's also afraid of rain, but that's another story.
19
I think Accosta should be suing the WH for slander/liable. The WH, or anyone, attacking someone via altered video is truly a sign on the techno-apocalypse. The technocalypse. Joking aside, this is important, and who cares if its 'playing into Trump's hands' and he'll use it as fodder at rallies to rile up his stupid supporters. Do whats right. Don't worry if the bully might get mean.
10
The late great journalist, Edward R. Murrow was relentless in his pursuit of the truth against the agenda of Sen. Joseph P. McCarthy and his "Committee for UnAmerican Activities". Murrow's CBS documentaries interviewing victims of McCarthy's "communist witch hunt" and his subsequent confrontational interview with McCarthy where he verbally took him apart piece by piece is a sight to behold and should be required viewing for every American. Journalists who show excellence in reporting are now given the Edward R. Murrow Award, named for him.
So what do we have now? Jim Acosta attempting to ask the President of the United States a question that he doesn't want to answer, has his press credentials revoked after being called insulting names by Trump, and people defending this saying that Acosta isn't "respectful"? I hope that every member of the media continues to stand up to Trump and not back down in holding Trump accountable for his actions.
17
Obama and previous presidents NEVER treated the media in such a violent and aggressive way. His unwillingness to answer the media's questions -- no matter how tough or inquiring -- is not acceptable. It is simply part of his job. This just goes hand-in-hand with Trump's longstanding history of wanting to hide the truth.
Trump is a demagogue who doesn't want ANYONE to oppose his views. That's very dangerous in a democracy. There must be freedom of the press to get their (and our) questions answered. I never saw this kind of obnoxious behavior from Obama.
Acosta was not being rude, he was merely trying to get his valid questions answered. In an obvious attempt to avoid answering them, Trump blamed Acosta for persisting with his question. How childish and aggressive!
Trump is simply the worst president ever!
23
Acosta didn't question the president, rather he stated his own opinion about the migrants not being an invasion and then started asking the president. In other words, he wanted to debate the president. He was inappropriate as a White House correspondent. I don't give a hoot what Acosta's opinions are, and why should I? He's a "reporter" is he not? If he's so eager to voice his opinions, let him write an editorial or start a talk show. I hope Acosta never gets back his credentials at the White House. I am sick of him and others like him who use their position to state their personal views.
19
CNN should also use the video of Trump wrestling someone with a CNN logo superimposed on their head.
The White House also peddled a doctored Infowars video of the incident in an attempt to make Acosta look as if he pushed the rude intern away when she tried to yank the mic out of his hand.
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/11/08/business/media/infowars-white-house-jim-acosta-cnn.html
The harassment is coming from the White House, not the other way around. The presidency has been defiled by Donald Trump and his disgraceful administration.
16
Trump insults and has been actively harassing the American People for 2 long, long years..feels like an eternity.
9
Is it really appropriate for an intern to have the job of snatching the mic for Trump? That was obviously the WH's "move".
The only creativity from this administration is the malignant growth of juvenile, grabby, snotty behaviors.
12
I find it ironic that mere hours after Trump told Jim Acosta that he and his network spread fake news and thus were “the enemy of the people,” his press secretary then tweeted a fake (doctored) video of Acosta’s interaction with a White House intern.
12
Trump can't take it, period. He is a narcissistic bully who desperately needs to be surrounded by loyalists who do not question him about anything! So he uses tyranny to "punish" a reporter. Mr. Trump, you and your bobble-head, power hungry minions are not going to stop anyone from staying after the truth! Watch Humphrey Bogart's Freedom of the Press speech in the 1952 film Deadline USA.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IPFXla9NdUM
9
Paragraph 4: How is there no mention of doctored footage?
5
CNN is trying to solicit the support of other media outlets for its lawsuit against the Trump Administration by claiming that "Mi Acosta es su Acosta"
3
Trump appears to have a dislike for men that are younger, smarter, and more attractive than him. That’s one of the reasons he seems to also dislike Trudeau, and now Marcon. Yes, he is shallow enough for such behaviour.
14
I think it's about time CNN started to stand up for itself. I think the news journalists should use legal means when they are told they are fake news, take the accuser to court to prove it. This may sound harsh , but it's the times we are in, the law is there for a reason ,use it.
14
Why is there a Constitutional Right for anyone in the Press
to attend a News Conference ?
9
To my knowledge, CNN is still allowed to report on whatever it chooses regarding the White House and President Trump. They are still free to go on the air and express their obsessive hatred of Donald Trump as much as they ever have. To my knowledge, Acosta is still seen on the air reporting on whatever he likes. So, please explain to me how the two referenced constitutional rights have been violated?
12
Good for CNN. The media needs to take Trump on. Enough with the soft touch!
10
I saw a young lady interning no doubt for free, which in itself should be illegal, she was told, not asked, to take away the mic. In her dilemma to follow orders, it was inadvertently her who violated the journalist's space. THAT constitutes disrespect to the journalist as an individual and as a representative of the press. Trump does not respect anyone except Mr. Putin. He actually believes that the Country is his private corporation.
11
At this point I would like to publicly thank CNN, The NYT, Washington Post, NBC, CBS, ABC, The Boston Globe and 98% of the rest of the legitimate media in this country for standing up to and calling this follie that is the Presidency of Donald Trump for what it is. While I will defend their right to continue to dig for the truth, point out the lies and print what is happening to this country, I am also committed to having the likes of Fox "news" and the few other right wing propaganda machines be allowed to spew their lies and hatred and create a safe space for those who have moved on to that parallel universe. Having a Free Press is a right given to us by our constitution and it must be allowed to continue as painful and as ugly as it may be for the sake of the nation.
10
It is shame is that there is absolutely no penalty for misbehavior. Sarah Huckabee Sanders may sometimes be compelled by her boss to shade the truth during a press briefing. However she has no such excuse for her voluntary tweet of the doctored Infowars video.
Yet there will be no price to pay. Once Sarah leaves her current position she can cash in on the inevitable book which she will be able to promote on all of the 'Fake-news' outlets. Then she will have lucrative spots as a pundit on the same media organisations, quite possibly CNN.
3
If Acosta has a First Amendment Right to be in the pressroom then so do I and every other American citizen so that argument won't hold up long. Nor is the administration trying to stop CNN from airing his opinions so the government is not abridging his free speech rights. But his grandstanding and behavior has cost him his ability to enter the White House, which is within the White House's right. Let the lesson be learned that when the president is giving a press conference he is in control, not the reporters pushing to increase their own image.
13
CNN is right to sue the White House, if Trump has his way he will rewrite the constitution to suit his needs.
He needs to be stopped ASAP.
9
Trump would not do well if this became a jury trial. It wouldn't be a Trump rally. Trump's petulance would be so constant, his lower lip would probably fall off.
4
Every reporter should keep asking the same question when the mic is passed on to them, when trump refuses to answer & only resorts to insults & racist remarks toward the reporters. Hold him accountable for his "official presidential statements" made on Fox & twitter. The WH has made clear that this is trump's official policy for his administration. Say to trump, the people want to know what you meant by ... Make him answer or make him walk out on TV & film.
8
About time someone fights back. Go CNN.
11
It's the people's White House, not trump's. How pathetic that this anti-American traitor needs to be taken to court to be reminded that his job is to SERVE the American people--all of them, even the ones who had the good sense and morality to not vote for him.
10
I hope that as this lawsuit moves forward there will be amplification of how the president and his administration have lied to the press and called it truth, while calling truth a lie, especially to I want those who cannot disassociate the words liberal and mainstream and media to hear this.
2
President Nixon could have said this about critical news media, that it is "a subset -- namely, "fake news" -- as the enemy of the people, because their unrelenting negativity, spin and false narrative threatens to swamp our ability to discern objective facts, and to weigh competing narratives. Nixon did say as much about the Washington Post. That didn't work out so well for Nixon.
4
Now that CNN has filed a lawsuit against all of them personally, it has taken sides.
Perhaps the White House should react by banning all of CNN, all of its reporters. They could be portrayed now just the other side of a lawsuit, seeking to gain points for litigation.
This would have what the Supreme Court has called a "chilling effect" on media. It would also last as long as litigation, meaning to the end of Trump's term. Thus, the chilling might well serve Trump, even if he lost.
All of this is one move, and an early move, in a fight that could be de-escalated, or could be escalated very far.
Which is Trump more prone to do? He seems to me to choose the wild man approach by personal preference.
2
“The president of the United States should not be in the business of arbitrarily picking the men and women who cover him.”
The president didn't order the removal Mr. Acosta's credentials randomly, he did so to specifically censor questions on a topic that is highly controversial both here and abroad. That being understood, the thing to watch is the Administration's defense of the action. Will they assert that they do not have to answer the suit for to argue with Trump is a matter of national security, or will they claim that the freedom of the press is not right but a option that is protected by executive powers. After all, the president has the right to not hold any press conferences. His is mandated by the Constitution to address the nation just once a year.
2
Hooray for CNN! This arbitrary and capricious, unconstitutional overreaction from an authoritarian Fake President and his sycophantic staff should fail spectacularly... unless Kavanaugh fails to recuse himself when this case reaches the Supreme Court. What President hasn't had a strained, even hostile, relationship with the press? Dan Rather's noteworthy confrontations with the thinned-skin Nixon readily come to mind. I love the British press and how they pull no punches when questioning their leaders, rightfully viewing them as public servants and not precious, private personages to be coddled.
16
Trump's cranky but he's smart. This is his kind of kerfuffle. He racks up points with his base by picking on Acosta. The suit comes. The White House concedes. The opposition deflates.
Then, at the next press conference Trump gets additional mileage by toying with Acosta -- being sarcastic, smirking, condescending, not calling on him, baiting him.
Let's hope the other members of the White House press corps pick up the ball and keep forcefully bringing Trump back to accountability. It would be extra nice if Fox News reporters pitched in.
4
@Msckkcsm
I think it's less that Trump is smart and more that his cult followers are dumb
3
All other news organizations should join if possible or file amicus briefs supporting CNN at all stages of this lawsuit
11
Trump may very well be the most condescending President in US History. What a nightmare.
13
Acosta did not act as a true journalist. His “questions” did not represent an effort to get at the truth. Instead, they were the ranting of a Trump-hating ideologue who just wanted to grandstand. The rest of the press resented his microphone-hogging antics. He should be banned permanently.
23
If you are Trump fan, why are you making the plaintiff's argument? You've stated the precise danger that Trump presents to the First Amendment in this case: the danger that our petty authoritarian would be empowered to judge who is "a true journalist" and who is not.
5
@Working Stiff
A journalist asks questions. "Truer" ones ask tougher questions.
Yes, let's ban questions. And doubly ban tough ones.
2018: It's 1984 all over again
3
@Working Stiff Acosta's questions did represent an effort to get to the truth.
6
GOOD!
Trump thinks he is an absolute ruler in the mold of his buddies Kim, Xi and especially Putin. He has not figured out yet that we are a Democracy, that his temporary position is answerable to the people and that we still have a Constitution with well-delineated powers.
This narcissistic sociopath seeks to suppress anything and anyone that disagrees with his insane actions. He has called the free press "the enemy of the people (meaning him). THIS CANNOT AND WILL NOT BE TOLERATED. His attempt to topple our Democracy will not succeed and the press, most assuredly CNN, has the right and obligation to guarantee this.
Sue him. Sue anyone who supports him. Let's see if our SCOTUS is still independent and fair and if they indeed intend to uphold their oaths to obey our Constitution.
13
I ask that all White House correspondents from rival news organizations to stand up with CNN and Acosta. Journalists must stand up together so no one is to be intimidated and threatened by Trump and the White House. We must preserve the integrity our free press. Voice your concerns at the press conferences. Boycott in demand for restoration of the free press.
We the people need truth be reported, not alternative truth of Trumpism. This is no time for news organizations to try to seize opportunistic advantages over fellow journalists.
Stand up for the FREE PRESS before your own corporate profits! STAND TOGETHER!
7
Easy solution. Have two press conferences: one for Acosta and the other for everyone else.
7
I suppose Sarah Huckabee thinks that American troops landing at Normandy was just more more grandstanding by FDR. Wake up, woman. You are enabling a man with fascist intentions (although he no doubt does not understand the label) to bring down our democracy. I would resign if I were you. History will not be kind.
16
Trump likes to go to court. Let's see how he likes this one.
12
Any first grader watching Acosta disrespect the President repeatedly would be shocked that this is how anyone is permitted to treat the leader of our country in public. Acosta needs to spend some time with Dear Abby or anyone who can teach him professional protocol and how to act with class.
16
This idea that Donald Trump is somehow beyond the reach of the rules that apply to everyone else is a disturbing one, even when it involves something as apparently small as the rules of professional protocol or how to act with class.
7
@ERA Not sure how you can act with class to a fraudulent so called commander in chief president.
Narcissistic self serving trump cannot stand any one who does not praise him. By taking away Acosta's press pass your freedoms could be next. Trump aspires to be the dictator in chief. Trump's disrespect for fallen heroes the disabled Black strong intelligent woman, the leaders of our allies, and i could go on. His constant lies and those that support him do not deserve respect. I can't wait for them all to be voted out of office. The Senate is not far behind. 2020 here we come!
7
@ERA Respect is earned, not given. People don't respect the position, we respect the person's character. Trump has shown no character worthy of respect.
3
I know CNN regularly faces blockage from covering the press conferences in China, my country of birth. I never thought I would one day see this happening in the US.
It should be highly alarming, folks. Because it is.
17
You are describing Trump..right?
2
As a confirmed democrat and dedicated anti-Trumper, I am so pleased that CNN is standing up and letting the WH and all the Trumpites know that you can't step on the truth. Contrary to Guiliani, the "Truth is the Truth" and will always out.
10
Acosta is the biggest showboat in the press. His classic moves include yelling questions from the back of a crowded room and bemoaning the fact that the President didn't answer his questions (which were impossible for the President to hear anyway). The White House was classy enough to not press charges on Acosta for assaulting the intern. Why does Acosta hate women?
12
@TL You complain that Acosta is yelling from the back and then complaining that Trump couldn't hear the question that Trump ignores. You can't have it both ways. Only my interpretation of what you just said.
1
Jim Acosta is doing his job energetically and is expecting answers.For that he gets his press pass pulled.There are at least three African American correspondents who have been insulted by Trump who says their questions are racist or stupid.The White House information office needs to take a hard look at their behavior.We have a free press and the public deserves answers.The White House does not run a second rate news feed which can decide who is in the press and who is the right color to ask a question.Their operation is a disgrace, a dark blot on our democracy.
13
Bravo, CNN. Please continue to serve the greater good by reporting and documenting the facts via unbiased reporting. Shine the light of truth in all of the dark corners of this featherbedding administration. As an attorney friend says, a verbal contract is only as good as the paper it's not written upon! Document, document, document!
10
Maybe Jim Acosta should sue the intern who tried to wrestle the microphone away from him. She initiated the scuffle.
5
She is named in the lawsuit.
1
@Charles Cohan I don't think she is.
Acosta’s right to speak was not violated. Acosta has the pulpit every day on CNN. Many reporters do not have WH credentials He is consistently rude to whoever is conducting the news conference. Somehow Acosta thinks it’s a debate. The president is not obligated to hold a press conference. Obama went months without a press conference. CNN can send any of their other reporters to the WH
15
@Ray, the First Amendment contains a lot more than the right to speak.
1
How ironic that Trumps says he is not "treated with respect" with his history of insulting just about everyone who is not his sycophant. "Crooked Hillary", "Low Energy Jeb", and calling members of congress and the press "stupid", "low IQ", and "terrible person". The office of the presidency has become so tarnished it no longer deserves any respect until Trump is gone.
And yet his supporters still back him. We are becoming a country divided into those who believe in truth and reason, and those who do not.
11
Good. Glad CNN won't be bullied by the pathetic lies issuing from the WH.
11
Finally! CNN's legal position is completely sound. To literally threaten to pull a reporter's mic out of his hands and then pull the reporter's hard card is as clear an impermissible prior restraint as I have ever seen as lawyer. If CNN does not bring this action, the press will be emboldening a White House that has taken a finger to go ahead and take the whole hand.
With Floyd Abrams reccomending suit, you may be sure it has a strong goid faith basis.
Whether Mr. Acosta is a "showboat" or not is not for the Times to say and is irrelevant in any event.
7
This is what happens when you part your hair too far to the left.
4
The right to not listen to CNN fake news is part of the 1st amendment.
The president has every right to criticize and ignore partisan screaming... just like biased reporters can ignore or fake Trumps conservstive wins on taxes, foreign trade, illegal immigration and real judges.
7
@obummer, it's almost as if you are unaware of the fact that the White House has arbitrarily revoked a previously-granted press pass.
No doubt Mr. Acosta is still free to cling as long as he wants to his bullhorn standing outside the WH gates. What does his rude manners have to do with the First Amendment?
12
@John Doe, that's a good question. You should ask Trump whether he thinks his hatred of Acosta should override the First Amendment protection of the freedom of the press. And Acosta's "rude manners" (pretty rich, coming from the short-fingered vulgarian) are only one of the several reasons given in turn by the WH for its failure to abide by the Constitution in this case.
2
@John Doe
Due process. It's Amendment. Reading: it's not just for liberals anymore :)
1
@Rich Acosta was informed in writing (by text to his cell phone) that his pass had been revoked but he still went to try and enter the WH anyway, videotaped it (of course) for the media, and now has put the Secret Service guy who blocked him and took his pass in the CNN lawsuit! In the video, he specifically says he is not blaming the Secret Service person--what a fraud to then include him in the lawsuit.
Black women are insulted by this racist president and is swamp administration. For this president to call anyone stupid shows how low he is, he just didn't want to answer the question. Ms. Sanders putting out a edited video of the so called touching encounter goes to show how thick their glass bubble is. Five time draft dodger, and embarrassment in Paris a man to busy to go to Arlington Cemetery, who supported Roy Moore, he needs to sit down and read a book about history he brings on all of these issues which once again show he has no human dignity.
Someone needs to tell Trump he works for the American not Putin and the Russians.
Jim Acosta is a first rate reporter who is trying to do his job, and the American people spoke on election day to the talking heads, Trump his swamp administration enough with this insanity, pull it together and all of the GOP needs to grow up.
The BLUE WAVE is here to stay and their is no room for people who don't support the American people and that means the GOP
I applaud CNN for standing up for Jim.
3
Trump has no sense of order. He speaks of people having no respect for the White House. The current occupant is worthy of contempt unlike that structure built with the blood and sweat of slaves. The White House is no one's protector. Trump assails a reporter and expects that professional to behave as an Army private would to his Commander? Crass ignrance. CNN'S response is the least that I expect. This one trick pony will predictably double down fully aware that any consequences will be dwarfed by the filth already overflowing from his life. The Fourth Estate has a duty and a reputation. Was the removal of a WH pass just a warning swipe across a trachea?
3
In my opinion, CNN has no choice but to sue. The role of a free press in our country is sacrosanct. The first amendment must be defended and protected. CNN is in the position to do this.
The fact that the Trump people felt it necessary to lie (for a change) by doctoring the video of Mr Acosta’s interaction with the intern, who mysteriously appeared out of nowhere, shows me that they wanted to hide from the truth of what really happened. We cannot live under conditions like that. If CNN doesn’t sue, then Mr Trump will, in fact, act upon his threat to withhold the press passes of other journalists who are just doing their job.
18
"This is just more grandstanding from CNN, and we will vigorously defend against this lawsuit."
Will they? I guess that depends on what Sanders means by "vigorously defend." If they mean the Trump WH will try to construct a winning legal argument about the First Amendment and Due Process, then I sincerely intend to read and listen with rapt attention.
But I think they mean the most typical Trump defense. In his personal life, Trump's usual defense is to buy his way out of trouble and contractually bind people to never speak about a matter again, truthfully or otherwise. As president, Trump's modus operandi is not so much to defend an issue as to assert some strained form of privilege, deference or procedural acrobatics to prevent the substantive issue from being raised at all.
In fact, the president's defense in a nutshell against the litany of active or pending investigations into his conduct is that the president is immune from all criminal processes. Indeed, without the ability to abuse the powers of the presidency in this way, many of Trump's colleagues have found it difficult to defend their actions implicating Trump himself. THEY, you see, cannot simply refuse subpoenas or fire an FBI director; installing loyalists instead. No one in Congress is running interference for Michael Cohen, Flynn, Manafort, Peck, Stone, etc. No one on SCOTUS might see things their way. No "mulligans" for them.
Normal people have to "defend" themselves. Kings do not.
2
Yes, a President of the United States, elected by the people, certainly does reserve respect and the press gathering at the White House is an invitational event. Acosta refused to yield the floor to the President when the President told him his question period was over, and just kept tight on talking, accusing the President, really. For that reason alone, imho, the President certainly has the right and responsibility to bar him in the future. Whatever we think of Trump, the position of POTUS at least requires the respect of reporters while they are at a formal press conference in the White House.
10
@Sandra Cason
Actually, if you're going to refer to 'the people" instead of the electoral college, then the president would not even be Trump. It would be the woman who won the popular vote by the widest margin in recorded U.S. History.
THE PEOPLE are backing THE PEOPLE's free press.
10
But Trump wasn't "elected by the people." Most people voted against him.
7
Dear NYT:
This article intentionally mischaracterizes President Trump's attacks on the certain elements of the news media. Trump does not label all media as “the enemy of the American people,” as your article falsely implies.
Rather, Trump has consistently attacked a subset -- namely, "fake news" -- as the enemy of the people, because their unrelenting negativity, spin and false narrative threatens to swamp our ability to discern objective facts, and to weigh competing narratives.
As President Trump has noted, some in the mainstream liberal media have been on a propaganda crusade against him, with more than 90% of all stories portraying him negatively -- as a Russian traitor, a fascist, a racist and white supremacist, a misogynist, and so on.
Our news media is addicted to click-bait headlines that amp up passion and appeal to partisan anger and hatred. Tribal narrative -- on left and right -- has largely replaced the search for common facts, and reason is no longer our guide.
Trump is right -- Fake news is indeed a dire threat to our democracy.
Acosta is the epitome of fake news. He is a rude and unprofessional hotdog of a reporter. His constant high decibel grandstanding got in the way of real reporting.
The revocation of his credentials is not a blow against the First Amendment; CNN has dozens of credentialed reporters, and barring Acosta is an act in furtherance of civility, professionalism and objectivity.
29
@Jorge, your comment is the best-written nonsense I have read in a long while. Your starting position seems to be that labeling any portion of the press, or anyone, for that matter, as "the enemy of the people" is a totally legitimate and non-Stalinist thing to do. Your uncritical use of the term "fake news," and your willingness to take Trump at his word, not to mention your straight-faced criticism of any Trump opponent as "rude" or "unprofessional" (are you serious? Have you ever listened to Trump talk?), suggest that your pretended concern for democracy is false. You would sacrifice freedom for order; you are an apologist for creeping authoritarianism.
8
@Jorge
Of course he gets negative coverage due to his own behavior. Trump lies constantly, attacks Gold Star families, mocks an American P.O.W., mocks a disabled reporter, brags about sexually assaulting women and getting away with it, brags about walking in on undressed teenage beauty pageant contestants, makes illegal hush money payments to porn stars, lies about colluding with a hostile foreign power, attacks and slanders federal judges, the F.B.I., and our intelligence agencies, calls the center-right, corporate media to whom he owes his ascent to the presidency "the enemy of the people," suggests that Democrats commit treason by not applauding his speeches that are full of lies and childish insults, all of which barely scratches the surface of his depravity, then he whines about the coverage he gets. Hillary Clinton received negative coverage for decades, most of it undeserved.
6
@Jorge Mr. Trump sees all stories that are not complimentary of him and his policies as fake news regardless of where the are published, and when he casts aspersions toward the media, he does not qualify which media channels are the enemy of the people and which are not; they all are. Like with fake news, he considers any media—The New York Times included—to be an enemy when they produce stories that challenge his skewed version of reality. It is the role of the media to report on the president but also to analyze and provide other views, to challenge clearly false assertions, and to investigate. That is how a democracy works. I am no fan of Acosta, but what is to stop the president from yanking the credentials from any other reporter he doesn't like. Some actions must not go unchallenged if we are to preserve the freedom of the press and the democratic process.
7
This will be an interesting case to follow to the Supreme Court, probably the only federal court in the land that is likely to rule in Trump's favor on this particular free speech issue. Trump may have lost 1/3 of his grip on American government, but he still owns the Supremes. And there is a sickeningly strong chance he will only strengthen that grip during the next 24 months.
2
Yup! With Kavanaugh and Gorsuch leading the pack.
For Sarah Sanders, who lies every time she speaks to the American people who pay her salary and for whom she works, to say that Jim Acosta's behavior was unprofessional is rich.
And let's not even talk about the professionalism of our so-called president.
19
Does anyone else think its odd that:
A) conservatives become vocally frustrated when Facebook or Twitter (which are not bound by the 1st Amendment) remove posts, but
B) defend the President (who is bound by the 1st Amendment) when acts and speaks out against the press?
14
@htg
I also find it frustrating that they had a collective stroke about the deficit when former President Obama was in office mitigating a financial crisis that Republicans had caused when we experienced a crash in 2008, and now they're not even mentioning the deficit that Trump is running up.
9
Never has there been a President so inept with the media. He does not have the intellect or morality to answer press questions. Also he lacks a sense of humor. So he has nowhere to hide except in blaming others. So unpresidential. However hopefully someone is writing Trump the musical.
14
You’ve only touched the tip of the iceberg of what he lacks. He also lacks ethics, empathy, compassion, judgement, humanity education, anything and everything that makes people human. On the outside, he may appear human, but he lacks what’s on the inside, a soul and a heart.
7
A "musical" about this would necessarily be full of off-key screeching, dissonant chords, out of tune instruments and an ongoing guest chorus of sailing children...
1
Kudos to CNN! After two years of this appalling man who pretends to be president, it is time to call him out on his ignorance of the Constitution, his maniacally thin-skinned outrage at anyone who challenges him, his destruction of the foundations of this country, and his embarrassment to America here and around the world. He should be sued for every illegal action he takes until he finally is removed from office. Of course, he is used to being sued, but maybe this one, as well as the suit by Maryland about his appointment of Whitaker will finally take him down.
13
Scary thing to me is the degree to which so many Americans actually support Trump's assaults on the Constitution, and do not seem to mind at all about (and actually agree with) his constant lying, xenophobic, and white nationalistic distorted fear mongering towards a anyone who is not a white male. Why do so many low and middle class Americans think it is much better for them when the rich get richer at their expense and their health care gets taken away? How do we understand the dynamic here for this huge group of Americans that so ardently support Trump?
Can the Times do an ongoing feature on Trump's America? I've seen a few article touching on this, but a "52 places that love Trump" series would be great. I mean it looks like we will likely be stuck with him now for another six years.....what is the appeal?
6
@John
what is the appeal to his followers?
three factors.
he is not black.
he is not a woman.
he is not a democrat.
3
I seriously believe what they’re supporting is that he’s making promises to them that they believe will be fulfilled. They don’t care how long it’ll take, and they don’t see all the smoke and mirrors that is prolonging his promises to be fulfilled. He’s going to campaign for 2020 with the same promises he made in 2016. By then, hopefully he will have lost most of his base.
1
@John
Perhaps you would have a different opinion of Trump if you read or were exposed to sources other than the "progressive" media of NYT or CNN. If those were the only sources of information on Trump we would have an extremely skewed view of Trump, and of world events in general.
2
This Canadian household has subscribtions to the Times, WaPo, New Yorker and others. We're proud to support true journalism. It's frightening to see the President of the United States attack the media with his blatant lies and hate. He seems to be more extreme with each passing day.
The damage he's done is going to take years to fix, if ever.
10
Mr. Acosta and CNN are vital to the critical function of an independent press. Mr. Acosta will do better to lay off his news conference editorializing though. Being relentless about getting answers to the smartest and toughest questions will do the job.
6
Good for CNN. It would be ideal if the rest of the Press Corps backed CNN. First Amendment more important than all the rest, because it is # 1.
4
As difficult as trump makes it, the press must quit taking his comments personally and treat them for what they are - the rantings of a madman. For almost 2 years the press has been at the front line of saving our democracy. I am grateful to them every day. They have faced an unprecedented attack on every institution, including a free press, necessary to our beloved country. But now is the time for the press to step out of the focus of the stories. It is the oxygen that feeds the insane person that occupies the white house. Instead of suing to regain Jim Acosta's credentials, the newspaper should be focusing on trumps failure to ever answer questions.
4
@barbara schenkenberg I agree, the press should back off from the dictator in training. Monitor every word he says but don't give him the credit which he lives for. The world is watching everything that is happening in the U.S. with total disbelief and anger. The States will soon be alone. Look how he acted in Europe over the weekend. I would think his deplorable supporters would be thinking twice after his ignoring the American solders who died during WWI, many I'm sure who sent their sons and daughters to fight in the many wars the States has been involved in. Your president is a disgrace, the press should ignore his rantings and just publish the truth.
2
Can we get a tally of all the lawsuits that this administration is fighting and how much this is costing? Seems like a new law-suite pops up every day and they just delay and appeal these for years.
I recall reading about the case that Trump was using his foundation as a piggy bank before the election is still running through the courts.
5
CNN shouldn't sue to get back to the White House. It's been made clear that this President doesn't respect our institution of a Free Press or accurate honest reporting and with the most recent participation of Fox employees on the stump with the Pres it's been made clear they are merely a propaganda arm of the GOP. The press should mostly black out this President and report only the necessary to the public to keep us informed. Enough of all this "free publicity" for Trump, shut down the constant false megaphone - we don't need to hear every false claim or read every tweet.
Is more really informing us more about this President? No it's just more of him on the air..... just block the false profit.
4
We have to seriously wonder if Trump fully supports the US Constitution and specifically the First Amendment.
6
@Gene Cass I don't think he supports the First Amendment at all . . . in any way, shape or form.
Can anyone cite a single thing he's done to further the cause of a Free Press in the US?
2
After CNN losses this groundless lawsuit it will weaken the press corps even more then it is already.
3
The one thing that seems clear from the video is that the aide assaulted Mr. Acosta. And since she appeared to be working under the direct instructions of Mr. Trump, he appears to be an accessory.
Assault is, of course, a crime. The Secret Service and or the FBI would appear to have a duty to arrest the aide and Mr. Trump for the assault.
6
@Eugene
yeah, that's the way I saw it, too. A stranger tries to steal the mike and Acosta was protecting it using his body.
1
Well Mr. Acosta I think we can now rightfully add yours to the names of several other brave journalists and writers who refused to "Sit down and be quite" when addressing intolerant , ignorant or misguided leaders or situations that actively were undermining our Democracy: Ring Lardner and Dalton Trumbo of the 'Hollywood Ten'; Peter Arnett and David Halberstam of the Vietnam War reporting; Neil Sheehan and Mary McGrory of Nixion's Enemies list; Joseph C. Wilson (and Valerie Plame), and Anthony Shadid who helped detail the folly and duplicity of the Second Invasion of Iraq.
I hope you keep-up speaking Truth to Power,Mr Acosta. And Thank you.
5
@Birddog Not to mention Woodward, Bernstein and WaPo!
Mr. Acosta is brash and confrontational--qualities necessary when dealing with a chronically mendacious president and his chief fabulist and enabler, Sarah Sanders. History will not be kind to Trump and Ms. Sanders. Mr. Acosta, on the other hand, will be remembered as the journalist who dared to challenge a petulant, repressive, demagogue.
6
Someone needs to remind Trump that we have no intentions of giving up our right to free speech.
Special thanks to NYT, CNN, WP and many other news outlets for their service to our democracy.
7
It is plausible that someday the White House press corps will consist of a small group of right wing journalists sitting on folding chairs in the East room.
1
@AnnamarieF. Obsma had a room full of left wing journalists
4
@Ray
Why is it that the first retort that springs to Trump's supporters mouths always involves Obama?
3
Once again. Morning online crew seems to have missed this:
Nothing about "First Amendment".
This suit is about an employee's reprehensible behavior in assaulting a young woman who works in the White House.
CNN should have fired the guy. End of problem.
8
@Alice's Restaurant, you should try reading the article or the complaint. The first claim, on page 14 of the complaint, is the violation of the First Amendment. The Fifth Amendment claim appears on page 15 and the APA claim on page 16.
4
@Dubious
They can allege or claim anything they want--surfboard wax and fried eggs too. That doesn't mean much unless a court finds in their favor. Perhaps Lenin's Bay Area 9th Circuit clerics might be the best choice for CNN.
3
Alex Jones will be called as a witness for Trump a firm believer in conspiracy theories like the birther movement Trump loves any movement that creates an alternate reality. Sarah Sanders the flunky lying spin master ready to defend the president no matter what which is how she keeps her job using her nose . Presidents need to be able to handle tough questions they don't like ,if you can't stand the heat get out of the kitchen. Fox/Trump STATE TV fawns over TRump non stop but he wants all media to praise him ,not the job of the free press ,its to keep us informed . Trump admires Stalin and other dictators we do not want one here and hopefully after we all see his warts next year he will not win in 2020 despite crying fraud . Perhaps New York state will convict him of crimes and a democrat president will not pardon him. Orange jumpsuit is his color.
2
I remember when Dan Rather was banned from Nixon's White House, and along with a host of other people. He was interviewed recently about this (I think it was Stephen Colbert) and Rather said he was proud of that fact. He and his family took a lot of heat and ridicule. Mr. Rather became quite emotional when they were discussing about what his family went through. I don't blame him; in fact, I have always thought he was a fair, objective reporter. He had covered the Vietnam War and mosty other major events of the "Nixon" era' pre, during and post. He did his job very well, in my opinion. He asked Nixon hard questions; especially of the Vietnam War and Watergate. Ultimately, he "caught" Nixon in his lies. Most people today arn't aware of Dan Rather, or even Walter Cronkite (senior host of the CBS Nightly News). Later, Rather took over from Cronkite. Walter Cronkite's shoes were hard to fill. I know this may sound cliched, but it is true. There is no one in the current media reporting that measures up to Walter Cronkite. Both of these men were at their peak long before the Internet, cellular telephones, and "cable TV". There were 3 broadcast networks in the United States: CBS, NBC and ABC. As far as Nixon, he was Public Enemy #1 to the "Counterculture". He was more like Donald Trump than unlike him, barring their upbringings (a large financial difference). In my (lay) opinion, Trump has a verye solopsistic view of the world; just as Nixon had.
2
I wish these journalists would focus on the real damage being done the way John Oliver does on ‘ Last Week Tonight ‘.
Jim Acosta as well as the cadre of African-American White House correspondents whose intelligence and integrity has been publicly called into question by DJT should consider a defamation suit against him personally.
Their livelihoods, reputations, and future earnings have all been jeopardized by the disparagement reigned upon them by this disgraceful man. He must be put on notice that his malignant behaviors will be costly to him personally. They are entitled to redress, and we are entitled to a President who deports himself in a more reasonable fashion.
5
Nothing about "First Amendment".
This suit is about an employee's reprehensible behavior in assaulting a young woman who works in the White House.
CNN should have fired the guy. End of problem.
5
@Alice's Restaurant
Except law suits require at least one party to be dealing with Reality.
An intern trying to grab a mic and then her boss coming up with a doctored tape of the "reprehensible behavior" manufactured by a video editor should back-fire into a counter suit. And labeled clearly as propaganda. Sanders and possibly the intern should be fired.
The American people are tired of Trump and Sanders' lies. On tape or out of their mouths- enough with the lies.
4
The NY Times Co vs. The United States of America.
"The people shall not be deprived or abridged of their right to speak, to write, or to publish their sentiments, and the freedom of the press, as one of the great bulwarks of liberty, shall be inviolable."
Every journalist should understand that wonderful quote: "The press is to serve the governed, not the governors."
Remember when the wonderful Dutch journalists helped each other by refusing to allow Hoekstra to lie, by refusing to back down after asking him why he was lying and spreading conspiracy theories about The Netherlands?
Hoekstra tried to use the American tactic of answering with a non-answer. When that didn't work he tried the next level of American tactics-- refusing to answer, ignoring and then bullying his way out of it.
But when Hoekstra tried these manipulations, it backfired. Every successive journalist he called on then asked the same question, repeatedly in their own way, until finally one said: "Excuse me, I asked you a question... This is the Netherlands -- you have to answer questions!"
Every member of the White House press corps should work together as the Dutch journalists did. All journalists and news organizations should unite against Trumpixon (Trumputin) attempts to malign and suppress our free press. Every journalist should proudly wear the badge of courage and integrity their title grants them as the voice of We The People.
1
On election night I watched Wolff Blitzer and Jake Tapper on CNN gloating over the Democratic win in the house. During that time they repeatedly referred to the President as “Mr Trump”. At one pint Tapper stated “it will be interesting to see how Mr. Trump handles an opposition group with subpoena power. Until now the only ones in position to curb his power has been the press”.
Really??? CNN thinks their job is to curb the power of the President? That is exactly what Acosta was thinking when he went ballistic during the press conference. The entire organization should be barred.
10
Steve, can you think of another institution that has been in a position to curb Mr. Trump's power? I don't understand your concern. Do you think that the press has no ability to hold the President accountable? Who would you propose as the ideal institution to expose his lies and expose his alleged crimes and abuses of power? Maybe state attorneys general or federal prosecutors, I dunno. In any case, Tapper didn't say "CNN," he said "the press." There's a huge difference, and your willingness to overlook it speaks volumes.
3
Trump displayed his true "great negotiating style" with Acosta and several other reporters.
When challenged he reverts to type and folds his arms over his chest, lowers his chin, and purses his lips.
No wonder he is regarded as a pariah by foreign governments.
If a couple of reporters get under his skin so bad that he is unable to function what would happen if he had to handle a real emergency?
Good luck my fellow Americans.
157
@joe kostas Trump goes into what I call the "Mussolini Pose" - a stupid macho pose by an overstuffed bully. I can't wait for this Trump nightmare to be over
2
Someone needs to remind the President and his minions that they are the public's servants and the White House is the public's house, not vice-versa.
And, as an attorney, I can tell you there's already legal precedent, referenced in the complaint, that makes the defendants' case unwinnable.
No later than the end of the year, Mr. Acosta will have back his credentials.
9
Sherrill v. Knight, 569 F.2d 124 (D.C. Cir. 1977). "The first amendment interest undoubtedly qualifies as liberty which may not be denied without due process of law under the fifth amendment."
Now this just means that Acosta should have been given "notice, opportunity to be heard, and a final written statement of the bases of denial." But "due process" matters. It's what separates the U.S. from the banana republics, and the wannabe-dictator antics of Trump, Sanders et al.
9
CNN is doing the right thing with this lawsuit, but it's yet another "win" for President Trump no matter how it's settled. He gets the optics of "CNN v. Donald J. Trump," with all that the "versus" implies to his base. And while we focus on this, the President and his allies can continue to dismantle democracy and enrich themselves.
Several talking heads are saying that suing Trump is playing in to his hands... While it is Trump's favorite game CNN has to file this suit on behalf of all of the press. What's next? No one being allowed to ask a question that doesn't suit Trump? Our freedoms are at grave risk if this suit is not taken seriously.
I also think the people who had their security clearance taken away for no reason should have sued.
5
Ironic, isn't it, the fellow's last name.
3
I take the opposite view of all commenters and well realize that the Times "comment reviewers" are becoming ever more hostile to conservative comments, recognize my comment will never be approved (Yep, blatant attempt to shame "censors), which is, Jim Acosta has become so hostile to Trump and so out-of-control, he presents a real danger to Trump's safety.
The Secret Service would NEVER allow a normal civilian with Acosta's hostility to get within a mile of any president. The First Amendment does not protect potentially dangerous individuals from getting access to the president.
The venom has become so pervasive that I'd wager most commenters would cheer on Acosta if he charged Trump one day and tried to pummel him.
9
@Frederick Kiel - Can you please explain how, exactly, Mr. Acosta was "potentially dangerous"? How did he pose a danger to the woman who tried to take his microphone when he said "Excuse me, ma'am"? If pointed questioning is considered "potentially dangerous," what does that say about the state of democracy and free speech?
I'm interested in comments from all side of the political spectrum, liberal and conservative alike. They just need to be grounded in fact and reason, not conspiracy-minded speculation equating pointed questions with acts of physical violence.
4
A danger? If one day? Oh please. He asks follow up questions that Trump can't answer. He twists himself into that position because, like with Whittaker . He says on Fox that he knows him well. Less than 3 weeks later, he denies knowing him. Well which is it? When Trump is cornered by his own lies, he goes ballistic.
6
@Frederick Kiel
Your comment has been printed just like everyone else's. No censoring. All this victim talk is tiring. You have spoken your peace and many of us simply disagree with you. Period.
4
If Trump can't handle a CNN reporter like Jim Acosta, how can he handle Vladimir Putin or Kim Jong Il or MBS?
Oh, wait...
10
@The Poet McTeagle
Putin - Since 2000, President of Russia, then Prime Minister, back to President, (14 years of total control of a country). Kim Jong-il - dead. But his kid, Kim Jong-un, Supreme Leader since 2011, (7 years in the saddle). MbS, I don't know much about him except he has been a power player in the Middle East and dangerous. trump - January 20, 2017 - present (22 months). So Mr. Poet McTeagle, I agree. trump is a flyweight in the world-wide ring of proven heavyweights. ( April 2007, Acosta joined CNN). Thanks , for the exercise!
hey El Trunpo would you let any of your employees speak to you in the way you speak to us?!
Maybe you should think of that before you speak next time because you are our employees we are not yours.
5
If the White House has to accept any "news organization" that asks to be let into the white house, InfoWars is now legally entitled to a hard pass.
4
Acosta is a disrespectful bum; glad he was banned
9
You’re missing the point. Even if Acosta is disrespectful (which is debatable), the real reason he’s being banned is his challenging the president by asking tough questions (which the president doesn’t answer, by the way). This is an obscene attack on the freedom of the press, essential for any democracy. Another step toward fascism.
2
Why not title this "CNN sue the Administration . . . " or "CNN sues the White House . . . "?
Quit giving the administration leader free ink. Erase his name from your print vocabulary.
1
Reinstate his credentials. Then refuse to respond to his questions, just point to others with raised hands. If Acosta interferes with that process, he can then be ejected.
Lather, rinse, repeat.
The press has the right to report. It does not have the right to intrude.
6
CNN's and Acosta's First Amendment Rights are not being violated.
First, there are no First Amendment "rights" per se, please read the First Amendment. The First Amendment does not confer rights; it issues a prohibition on government from restricting speech and press by saying "Congress shall make no law ..."
The last time I looked the President is not Congress. In fact, the President is strictly separate from Congress.
As far as due process, the President or the Administration more broadly owes the public no press conferences. If they decide to hold press conferences, I think a fair conclusion is that they should treat everyone fairly, and more or less equally, although that is probably not a legal requirement. Acosta was treated fairly, because he was not banned capriciously but for behavior that was clearly unusual and disruptive. It was Acosta the boor who was banned, not CNN. No one else was banned, as no one else behaved in this offensive and disruptive manner that interfered with the very process that the plaintiffs are touting as paramount, that is, reasonable press access. CNN can send other reporters.
My guess is, looking at the list of plaintiff lawyers, half the lawyers don’t believe this suit has merit, as they will lose, but the other half thinks otherwise, and they now have a bet.
I hope Trump sticks and this goes all the way to SCOTUS. The plaintiffs will lose.
9
If this case is not decided on an open-and-shut basis, given that there is no evidence at all to show any "disrespect" to the President or any legal principle that requires journalists to show "respect" to a President, then I will be shocked.
6
CNN making things worse, escalating the conflict. Who is/was right or wrong immaterial. Diplomacy and time to let tempers cool on both sides is better than lawsuits. Bad move.
5
@Marco Polo. Maybe thats how it works in SA, but not here. You are flat out wrong. This is yet another line crossed by this admin that is a step toward fascism.
1
There is no requirement under any U.S. law that the President hold any news conference or, should he do so, to invite any and all news outlets and reporters that wish to attend. There is also no requirement that the President answer any reporter's questions or to relinquish his right to disinvite any reporter for any reason once invited.
There is no freedom of speech at issue. Acosta can say whatever he likes and he has done so. CNN. can say whatever they like and they continue to do so. But the President has rights too and they include ejecting a contentious individual who refuses to relinquish a microphone or who insists on receiving an answer to a question, proper or otherwise as well as to disinvite such person from any future Presidential event. The same can be said of any network, including CNN, who are granted the privilege of attending a Presidential news conference or any other event. The host is the President. The invitees are certain members of the press and networks. Nowhere is it written that a host is prohibited from disinviting or ejecting a guest.
CNN is not above the law. It does not have imperial privileges and it may not create such privileges out of whole cloth.
14
@Ross Stuart
President isn't the host, we are. We allow him to occupy our House for 4 years but we want to know what's going on.
2
@DaveD
Jim Acosta is not your sole source of "what's going on". If he is I suggest you have a problem.
@S. Ross
Sorry, no. The "problem" is who's in the White House.
1
The person in this incident who cultivated and promoted FAKE NEWS was the President. Jim Acosta had every right to ask the questions he did. The press's role is to hold the President and our government accountable for their actions. Mr. Acosta's line of questioning was rational and legitimate. There are NOT hundreds of Immigrants from Central America invading our border. Mr. Trump was grandstanding and acting out. Mr. Acosta was attempting to hold Mr. Trump accountable. If President doesn't do well in these situations, it is him that should be looking for a new job. The President is accountable to the American People 24 -7.
13
As a public figure Trump should expect tough questioning from all quarters. Trump is consistently ill prepared to answer questions, evades questions that he does not like, and rather than reflecting on why he struggles with the media he blames them for his own inadequacies. His discomfort with the media is openly displayed and recorded for history. I can't help but feel sorry for Trump's inability to curtail his poor judgement. He is his own worst enemy.
10
Of course Mr. Acosta should get his White House press pass back. It is too bad that this issue couldn’t have been settled between the parties without a lawsuit, which only hardens positions and ratchets up hostilities. Trump should never have taken the bait and unloaded on Acosta, and Acosta didn’t need to posture so much as he asked his questions.
1
Mr. Trump labors under the impression that he owns the White House and the people inside like the master of an Old South plantation which the article alludes to a bit vaguely.
As no more than a temp employee of the people, Mr. Trump appears to lack authority to banish citizens from their own house without due process, as basic as our social contract gets, I thought.
Claims of "grandstanding", a bizarre complaint given Mr. Trump's M.O., is unlikely to suffice as due process in most courts of law.
Hats off to CNN for standing tall for the people.
If our Constitution works, Mr. Trump will learn his place in the people's White House or quit holding public forums which would be a welcome relief.
10
It would be helpful if CNN would sue for defamation, as well, since Sarah Sanders - acting in her official capacity - knowingly shared a doctored video.
Everyone at the White House needs to think twice about using official platforms to spread falsehoods.
16
@John
Defamation--for assaulting a young woman who works at the White House? It was pretty obvious the dude grave her arm a good shot with his hand. Seems she's got a good personal injury case against him--perhaps put him in jail for a day or two also.
4
@Alice's Restaurant If that's assault, then we all must be swimming in lawsuits from the people we brush against on the street everyday. Did you see the actual video or the doctored, sped up version that the White House released to bolster their baseless claim? His hand impacted her arm because she reached for the mic while he was gesticulating. She didn't cry out in pain, or even react in any way that would have shown that she was hurt. She hasn't said a word about this, and it took the White House plenty of time to come up with that spurious claim. She's about as hurt as the people who lay on stopped cars for insurance fraud. Trump has a personal beef with Acosta and looked for an excuse post facto to justify his own personal crusade against one person because Acosta isn't afraid to ask tough questions - and Trump clearly isn't used to having tough questions asked of him.
4
@Chris P
Lewandowski got pilloried by the press for less. Go fish.
1
Although the White House Correspondents Association supports this suit, I feel they could do a whole lot more. First and foremost, staging a walk out would "hurt" trump far more than a lawsuit because it would remove him from being front and center, and make him "invisible" to the general public. Completely non-confrontational, but supremely effective is my guess. trump loves the spotlight. Take the spotlight away from him, the better for everyone. No grandstanding on his part because there would be no one to witness it.
He would be left to Twitter and his numbers there are nothing to shout about, if the "likes" on his tweets are anything to go by. Even on the hottest topics, he doesn't garner more than 30-50,000 likes. Most of his supporters aren't exactly computer whizzes and don't keep tabs on Twitter.
I don't like the fact that the hearing judge is a trump appointee, but on the other hand, it puts him in the hot seat vis a vis a "legal" ruling that will stand the test of an appeal. No judge likes to have their opinions overruled in a higher court.
CNN is on the right side of history in filing this suit. It's absolutely necessary. trump's attempted infringements on First Amendment rights have reach dangerous proportions. We MUST hold the line against this would-be tyrant.
10
Since when does the president decide who and who is not "respectful," particular among the press? From now on reporters who asks pertinent questions has to fear they will be ejected or banned from the White House press conferences if Trump does not like their question. Can there be any doubt this has a chilling effect on the First Amendment's freedom of the press? This, from a man who respects no one, not even himself, unless they bow down to him .
7
@Alan J. Shaw Reporters need to respect the office, not the person holding it.
1
@Jason A.
Yes and that includes Trump who defiles the office every day.
3
@Alan J. Shaw
Sorry for typos. "Reporters who ask...have to fear"
1
“If left unchallenged, the actions of the White House would create a dangerous chilling effect for any journalist who covers our elected officials.”
For our democracy to thrive, Constitutional law must be protected, if necessary in a court of law, every time it is breached.
CNN has stepped up to protect our hard won first amendment rights.
Efforts to cover the truth, including issuing a doctored video, are not worthy of our democracy, nor was the prevention of a reporter from doing his crucial job, who, by asking the tough questions and getting the answers from our elected officials, informs the rest of us.
Freedom and justice must prevail for our democracy to thrive.
10
Our would-be autocrat cannot be allowed to abrogate the First Amendment rights of the Press or the people. He has effectively flaunted the laws of the land. Now he is attempting to sidestep constitutional privileges. The courts need to send a resounding "No!"
8
Well done. Finally action is being taken to uphold the U.S. Constitution and its Amendments.
This president has trampled over it long enough.
16
Go CNN! I was an intern at CNN in the late 1980s and always impressed by the professionalism everyone displayed. Honorable news organizations are vital, and they are made up of individuals who 1) understand their rights, and 2) understand history, and 3) will not let the thinking citizens of this country down.
13
In years to come, trump’s de facto “enemies” list, like Nixon’s,
will be seen as a badge of honor. Daniel Shorr and Dan Rather will be joined by Acosta and, unfortunately, other good journalists. And I and millions are convinced that the courts will uphold Acosta First Amendment rights, which are really the rights of the people.
9
Bravo to CNN. The press corp and media should act to stop the attacks from Donald Trump. By saying the press as" ennemy of people," Trump indirectly violates the First and Fifth Amement, that means his violates his pledge on the Bible to protect the Constitution.
6
"Mr. Acosta, who has a reputation as a showboat among some of his press corps colleagues..."
Since when is having the courage to regularly stand up and directly challenge Donald Trump and Sarah Sanders on their lies considered showboating?
17
"The White House cannot run an orderly and fair press conference when a reporter acts this way, which is neither appropriate nor professional,” Ms. Sandera wrote.
Really? And when did you hold one of those? Please clue me in.
13
Given the dissemination by the WH of the adulterated tape, I should hope Acosta also sues for defamation of character.
11
Did the sociopath who calls himself POTUS ever answer, after his hissy fit, the "shocking & riveting" questions posed by the CNN reporter? Trump is a moron and 2020 can't come soon enough.
10
If Trump doesn't like tough questions from the media then he is in the wrong business. He should go back to being a thug in the NYC building trade. He has shown nothing but disdain for the Fourth Estate, taken every opportunity to stymy investigation, quash inquiry and impede access to the truth. It was also terrible form to charge an intern with refereeing a Trump press conference. Not only is he a lousy president and a dreadful delegator, but he is a crude and crass communicator — even worse than Scaramucci, if that's possible. What a debacle! I hope CNN wins the case and Jim Acosta's White House credentials are reissued. Otherwise, we are racing headfirst into totalitarianism.
10
John F. Kennedy once barred from delivery to the White House a newspaper that displeased him (I do not recall the paper's name).
In general, being a newspaper reporter is not an entitlement to be admitted to questioning others. A very broad category of media reporters includes icon-clicking, infinitive-splitting, semi-literate
reportasters, inventors and generators of imaginary news. Off with them!
8
Deciding not to have a newspaper at the White House is not a violation of the First Am3ndment.
6
@Tuvw Xyz
It's one thing to bar a newspaper and another to take the credentials of a reporter who you dislike over what is supposed to be a press conference.
Big difference, by the way I saw the broadcast on BBC and I saw Mr Trumps attack and hissyfit if it wasn't so stupid it would have been funny. I also saw the version of the press conference released by the White House and it's a badly formatted version to make it look like what happened was different from the original broadcast.
That's sad and Mr Trump could have just answered the question without the drama. It would have only be of minor interest at that point.
Now it's another thing that adds to silly behavior that is not good for the White House.
5
Nothing wrong with choosing to boldly split an infinitive when the occasion arises. The prohibition is just Victorian schoolmarmishness with Latin envy.
The White House is not “in general”. If the president can insist on softball questions, what use is the press conference?
Your opinion of the press in general is irrelevant. Ask yourself who should be allowed to question the president, and who should decide. That’s what the suit is about.
4
Trump enjoys and encourages these opportunities to deflect, dodge, devalue and discredit anyone who takes issue with his points of view. CNN is certainly in the forefront of being particularly targeted by POTUS and too bad as they have every right to ask the questions they do. His boorish, adolescent bullying behavior lacks anything approaching a civil, informed or articulate rejoinder in the majority of instances. Sidekick Sarah is equally arrogant and adversarial in her comportment. Waste of time to comment further other than to observe this is yet another attempt on Trump's part to silence the free press.
10
Trump has to be the smartest man to ever hold the office of President. The nearly magical ability Trump has to get the learned readers of the NYT to chase the laser pointer is actually comical. Acosta and this lawsuit are a ratings ploy. Acosta gets to ask one question maybe once a month of the President – that is the difference between Fascism and American Freedom. Give me a break.
7
@mkm Your sir are not very informed now are you ,the New York Times was the paper that sued the president and won a landmark case against the Nixon Administration in the pentagon papers , and i see absolutely no reason why CNN won't win again .
1
@donald carlon - do you homework. The Pentagon Papers suit was not about press access.
3
What CNN and Jim Acosta don't get is that they are absolutely playing into Trump's strategy by taking this as a personal affront. They yanked Acosta's credentials, not CNN's ability to place a reporter at the briefings, so send another reporter in. This will blow over and he will be back in a few months.
Acosta is a blowhard who is disrespectful to his peers and the President, if he would tone down his act he might have had the chance to ask real questions.
And he did touch the intern and push her arm away, albeit minor, any statement to the contrary is a lie. He should apologize, not to Trump, but to the intern, serve his time in the penalty box and continue reporting.
7
@Jason A.
I saw the live broadcast and Mr Acosta didn't shove or push the intern he did block her from grabbing the microphone.
2
They've changed the rationale. Realizing that their bogus assertion that Acosta's hard pass was yanked because he "laid hands" on an intern (he didn't), they are now saying it is because he "monopolized" the microphone. The strategy now seems to be one of divide and conquer: stir up resentment against Acosta and CNN in the White House press corps in hope that they will stop defending him.
1
This may be about CNN and Acosta at the moment, but if they prevail in this lawsuit it will be a victory for the growing number of White House press reporters who've been insulted or had their questions cut short by Trump. I hope other Press organisations follow CNN's lead.
Trump and his administration are under pressure from several fronts right now. More and more people are seeing that the emperor has no clothes and aren't afraid to show it, from voters to foreign leaders in France at the weekend to CNN, and it's reported elsewhere that there are more indictments on the way imminently in the Russia investigation.
Keep it coming, I say. Let's see how much energy and stamina Trump's really got.
5
Good news! And REAL (not fake) news too!
Freedom of the press is essential to a democracy and attacking, muzzling, and replacing news and info with Big Lies are the marks of an autocracy, a tyranny, and a despotism!
4
No, chivalry does not require that men defer to women who are stepping on the First Amendment. Bravo, Jim Acosta, for holding your boundaries and holding on to that microphone. As a woman, I'm offended that the White House would doctor a video to make a woman with agency look like a victim. It was Kellyanne Conway who once said, "I'm a product of my choices, not a victim of my circumstances." The female intern in the video choose to aggressively step into Acosta's space and remove the microphone by force. Nevertheless, he persisted.
6
@Amy Luna
I think she was sent to take the microphone from Mr Acosta and she looked to the POTUS to see what to do.
4
Of course, as a representative of a major news organization, M. Acosta should have his White House credentials restored. The White House reporters could help though, by asking real questions instead of just pushing their chosen narrative, which was the source of the problems with Mr. Acosta and the PBS reporter Yamiche Alcindor (one of the most biased network correspondents I've ever seen). It's a waste of time for any President to be ask to comment on a reporter's pet theory, no matter how much their network wants to promote it. This President wants to be combative, and the best way for the reporters to fight back is to seek out substance, not editorialize.
4
@David Godinez
Mr Acosta was asking if the Democrats in control of the house was a concern for Mr Trump.
1
this lawsuit has it completely backwards. acosta's removal doesn't violate "his first amendment rights". rather it was he who violated of the right of every other reporter in the room to question the president.
someone has to be responsible for deciding how much time a reporter is allotted to ask a question. no matter how little regard many of us have for trump, this duty is obviously his alone.
acosta flagrantly violated the rules of decorum & professionalism; namely, when the president says your time is up, you relinquish the microphone, regardless of how insufficient you believe his answer to be.
say anything you want about trump's incompetence; failing to penalize acosta's behavior is the same as advocating for a press conference format that is so wildly chaotic as to render it manifestly pointless.
5
don't impeach the president because we ill get pence. Impeach Kavanaugh who clearly lied and if we can Trump's other illegal appointee. Just clip Trump's wings it will drive him into a frenzy.
3
Please give a list of the actual impeachable offences, it's not enough to say you don't like someone.
According to Justice Kavanaugh, Margo, lying to the American people is sufficient grounds for impeachment.
At least with was with a Democrat in the White House.
p.
I was so glad to read of CNN's lawsuit and that Mr. Olsen will be a part of the team representing them.
This nonsense must stop. He's not a dictator even though he thinks he is Putin or Duterte or Xi. This is AMERICA, Mr. Trump. You are OUR servant! And you are to answer OUR questions put to you by the press. They work for us. You work for us. Got it, Trump?
9
Jim Acosta is a bully just calling for attention. CNN can simply send someone else. On the other hand, it would be great if he was reinstated and the White House never took a question from him. That would be even better. He needs to have respect for the President, wether he likes it or not, deserves it or not. Also, what happened to journalists asking questions but not sharing their opinions, just stating the facts?
6
@Charliep
I think a quick review of the First Amendment might be in order.
4
@N. Smith
Seems like you need to review it first. See my comment above.
1
@charliep, CNN DID send another reporter as Trump left for Paris: an African American female and he told her she asked 'stupid' questions. Then he ranted about reporter April Ryan, AGAIN. He only wants to answer questions from the adoring, adorable Fox reporters.
1
Trump's behavior at last week's press conference resembled that of a "hormonal musk ox"--a phrase which apparently appeared first, describing Trump, in The Financial Times. Swaggering and prancing across the stage, Trump bloviated about his imagined big victory in last week's elections, continued spewing insults against black female reporters, and implied that foreign correspondents for whom English was not their first language had no business asking questions that were hard (for him) to understand. The guy's an uncivilized brute, and his press events are stressful for everyone concerned. What if no one showed up, or there was only pool coverage from now on? ... fewer lies to get enraged about...
7
Trump's claim that Acosta acted inappropriately is another big fat lie. Acosta was doing his job by asking challenging questions, and Trump simply can't stand for people to know the truth about him.
Trump should not be allowed to silence members of the press or to infringe upon their freedoms. If we want to protect democracy, then we must stop Trump.
3
We all know how Trump will re-write this story. But the First Amendment is well worth a fight, particularly in this case where Trump and Sanders are the aggressors and the fake news purveyors.
Trump is now casting the media and any investigations started by the New Democratic-led House as “Presidential harassment.” He’d like to thank Mitch McConnell for handing him this defense. The real news is that what Trump calls presidential harassment is just the system of checks and balances starting to do its job again. For lessons in real harassment, interview Devin Nunes, Jim Jordan, and Mark Meadows.
3
I agree with cnn about taking this to court, however they should replace Acosta with someone else that’s not involved in controversy. I’m sure they can find a replacement that can ask tough questions. With all the lies and corruption surrounding this administration, I think pressing that particular question, which everyone knows the answer to, was showboating and not particularly helpful.
2
Every possible stand must be taken against an administration that lies every day and most of the day. Freedom of press is even more paramount in this age of nationalism, press bashing, and curtailing of democracy.
13
I thought Jim Acosta was being pretty annoying also, but that did not warrant his barring. If you consider the big picture, Jim was only meeting Trump at his level, which we need. There is no one with a public platform in America who is more disrespectful than Trump. I've wanted interviewers of the President to be more blunt, frankly. When he tells a lie, he should be called out on it point blank. Every time, to his face.
That said, there should be a more organized way of conducting the press briefings. The President shouldn't be able to only take questions from media orgs who tend to side with him, but media orgs should be more respectful of their peers and allow the mic to be passed. Acosta is not the only in that room who wants to bring Trump to account.
4
What does it matter if CNN reporters are in the White House or not? CNN is going to tell the news the way they want it to be told anyway
11
Trump is an outsized verbal bully. Acosta remained calm while trying to ask his question, yet Trump loudly spoke over him while trying to shut him down. Trump does not answer questions he doesn't like and if he supplies an answer he lies. He thinks he has a right to control the media and he does not: the Constitution still rules. He might have been able to control his wives, his children, his employees, other sycophants this way, but he does not have the right to control the press this way.
13
Imagine Bill O'Reilly refusing to give up the mic at an Obama press conference and physically brushing off a female intern's attempt to do what Obama asked her to do. Unacceptable, right?
14
@Teller
What you say just isn't so.
3
Can't imagine what would never have happened. We are in the Trump. White House now. There are many of us who wish it was the Obama or Clinton White House but it is not and it is time to stop imagining. You own the buffoon you put there.
6
I guess you aren’t aware that the video where it looks like he physically pushes her away was actually doctored? Sanders shared from Infowars. It’s not real. Google it.
8
CNN's suit is for the benefit of the entire country. These presidential press events have become a sick farce, complete with lies, insults and doctored videos. It's gone on long enough. Trump's antics and his rotten regime are an affront to democracy, decency and the truth.
17
CNN itself has not been barred only Acosta for his tantrum. He acted like a child and was given a time out. The same action would have been taken place at any public meeting. Why does CNN deem itself above the normal standards of decorum?
10
How soon before Fox files amicus brief on half of White House?
6
Whatever any of you think Acosta did or did not do, this madness that Trump has created is the root of all issues. We have never seen anything like it under any administration, including Nixon.
Trump is a madman and a sociopath. Trump and his family need to be removed from the White House. ASAP. Please get the Mueller report and proceed with impeachment. Or would you prefer we wait until he and his family start sending thugs to hurt reporters and citizens he does not like.
14
“You've gotta treat the White House and the office of the presidency with respect.” President Trump told the White House press corps after Jim Acosta’s WH press pass had been pulled.
Mr. President, you gotta command respect not demand it! This is the fourth estate, so essential to a vibrant democracy, that you are dealing with, not some “yes men” from the Trump organization. If you started to act presidential, maybe you would begin to earn some respect from, whom you so despicably call, “the enemy of the people.” Without the free press, and the billions of dollars in free media that was afforded to you, Mr. President, you might never have been elected to the office that you now demean so willfully and shamefully. So, let charity begin at home (from within the White House) and it will do wonders to your clamor for respect.
15
I don’t understand why it’s difficult to get it across to folks that if Trump wants better behavior, he needs to start behaving better; that the proper attitude of Press to government is always semi-polite antagonism; that the very worst Acosta did was to push to get an honest answer for maybe thirty seconds.
Whoop-de-do.
I did like the point that several posters already made: that Trump better never let hisself get on the BBC or any serious news channel from Europe. You think he threw a hissy fit this time around? “Mr. Trump, Churchill’s grandson called you pathetic for skipping a ceremony to honor your own Marines who died at Belleau Wood because it was raining. During a similar ceremony you did attend, you complained that veterans were under a tent and you were getting damp. Can you explain....”
They’d shred him. Of course His Nibs’d never get close to a presser in which he wasn’t being interviewed by toadies, and couldn’t just tell the interviewer to shaddup and get away with it. Closest we’ll get is something like “Sixty Minutes,” where the ground rules are set well in advance—and those are shocking enough as it is.
8
This is something personal between Mr. Acosta and Mr. Trump.
Both took it to another level.
Trump yielding his power as President.
Acosta determined not to be treated as one of " the little people ".
Acosta is better to let Trump embarrass himself organically, which is definitely Trump's speed, rather than to hasten his incompetence by backing him into a corner.
Too bad Trump craves coddling and ego stroking to Presidential posture and eloquence.
Nobody wins here.
Still wondering what happened to the questions/topic that led to Trump’s rage. Wasn’t it “Nationalism” and relationship to KKK, etc.?
2
It's not like Jim Acosta of CNN is the same as Jeff Gannon of the Bush Republican White House.
Republicans really have a problem with that "First Amendment", don't they...?
8
Will someone please remind these people in the WH and government in general that they are answerable to us. We are not their subjects, they are our employees.
11
It is important for journalists to be willing to call out the dishonesty and lies from the administration...any administration. Press conferences are usually televised. Sometimes live. So when the journalists stay mum and let the administration, even the president himself, get away with half-truths, disinformation, and outright lies, they have become complicit in fooling the country. No amount of fact-check later can unring that bell when millions have seen it and heard it.
Look at the way the press was docile before the 2003 invasion of Iraq, and look at where that lead us. Whether or not you like Jim Acosta’s style or not, we need reporters who are willing to be aggressive and push for the truth. Politely nodding at lies is not acceptable.
6
In the meantime, has CNN temporarily replaced Mr. Acosta with another White House correspondent? While I think the President's treatment of Mr. Acosta and the non-Fox press in general is abhorrent, I don't see how CNN can claim that it has the right to insist that a particular individual be given access to the White House as its designated correspondent. What if instead of just acting questions that irritate the President, Mr. Acosta insisted on addressing Trump as Mr. Potato Head? Does anyone really believe that the Trump administration would have no right to bar Mr. Acosta from the White House?
7
What's most interesting about this complaint is that Gibson, Dunn and Crutcher filed it on behalf of CNN.
Firms don't get more Republican than Gibson Dunn (home of, among others, Ted Olson (GW Bush's Solicitor General), Gene Scalia (one of Justice Scalia's sons), and so on).
Of course, we already knew that Ted Olson and Gibson Dunn turned Trump down as a client.
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/03/25/us/politics/trump-lawyers-digenova.html
But it's still notable that they've moved from refusing to defend the Trump, to suing him.
5
This incident was both petty and dishonest. The White House used a doctored video to substantiate its false claims, and lied about the incident. Trump was hostile and aggressive--more so than Mr. Acosta. In addition to CNN's suit, Mr. Acosta has a very strong case for defamation.
Unfortunately, this low-life behavior is now typical of the Trump administration--lying, false accusations, and "alternative facts" have become the normal mode of operations. I am ashamed for our nation that we have such incredibly course behavior in our highest corridors of power.
14
Congratulations to CNN. I hope there will also be suits filed against Trump whenever he makes false charges of fake news. We all know that the only fake news is what is spewed out of Trump's own mouth.
As a result of America's experience with Trump, maybe Congress should consider passing laws that would require presidential candidates to undergo psychological testing the day after they submit their application for candidacy.
Once the psych tests indicate they are mentally stable, candidates should be required to spend part of each day of their year of campaigning by attending an ABA-approved paralegal course so they'll have a working knowledge of what is required of them in office and what they are not allowed to do.
Maybe then we'll avoid experiencing another 'king-me' fool from winning an election via a bought-off(?) electoral college.
6
I'm curious about how the intern thinks working at the White House and making a fool of herself on tv is going to help her future job prospects.
9
Sarah Huckabee Sanders, though representing the President, is a public servant paid by and answerable to all the American people. The question is whether her incessant lies to all of us are protected free speech or is she legally prosecutable for perjury?
7
@Chuck Burton come on man at least learn the definition of perjury before you throw the word around. One would need to be under sworn oath (which she is certainly not) to be charged with perjury. Quit with the hysterics.
2
@Chuck, it's not perjury we're looking at, it's fraud.
2
You think I don't know that? Give me a break. The implicit message of my question is lying to the American people in a SWORN public position. And yes, she is unfortunately not in that kind of legal jeopardy.
1
From what I observed "aggression and being disrespectful" is on both sides of the microphone.
Very good to hear, upholding Freedom of The Press. The late, great Helen Thomas, who I was fortunate to meet, would not stand for censorship, a force to be reckoned with for decades of Presidential conferences starting with JFK. I think she would find the current Liar in Chief pseudo President to be a disgrace to his office on so many levels, starting with the deplorable ways he denigrates the Press if he cannot control his own demented narratives. Protecting the the 1st Amendment is to protect freedom of speech.
4
Wouldn't the intern approaching Mr. Acosta and attempting to wrest the microphone from him constitute misdemeanor Battery? You can't lay hands on someone just because they (admittedly, rudely) fail to follow normal procedure.
5
Yup, some of these White House press journalists are a bit too big for their britches. But arrogance and narcissism tend to clash anyway. Having said that, why have an intern do Trump's dirty work for him--was wrestling away microphones part of her job description? Perhaps you could have turned the microphone off? My kindergarten teacher, Ms. Olson, would deal with this kind of misbehavior by making a student sit behind the piano. Wonder if both Mr. Acosta and Mr. Trump would fit there?
1
You go CNN! This president who can't even get out of bed to honor veterans does not get to force us to live by his standards. I have no interest in trying to cozen everybody who enters my sphere of influence.
So to you mr. trump I say this:
Smokey, this is not Nam. It's bowling. There are rules!
6
It is clear we now need explicit legal protections for journalists.
2
I am not a lawyer. I am, however, a concerned citizen who paid attention in History and Social Studies classes. With that understanding, this appears to be a clear violation of Jim Acosta's First Amendment rights as a bona fide reporter, amplified by the White House's release of the doctored video making his attempt to hold the microphone while asking an appropriate question look like some kind of low-level violence. Really, Republicans, it is not. The violence that is being done is to our constitution, to truth and to bedrock American values. It is perpetrated by the White House, the notorious fable-spinner Sarah Sanders, and all who support this thin-skinned so-called president in his attempts to hijack the entire government and shut down free and honest reporting. The Republicans' irrational lies over this incident, added to their purely a fictional accusations about the Florida vote strictly for political gain, have stripped away any remaining credibility they may have had as a party. They debase America. They must be contained and then replaced at all levels of government. Go for it, CNN!
428
I’ve seen more physical contact when people are saueezing in and out of elevators. The claim that Acosta assaulted anyone is 1984-esque nonsense. It is Dear Leader commanding us to ignore the evidence of our eyes and ears. And it is ultimately a distraction from the fundamental issue: this administration doesn’t want journalists to ask incovenient questions. It wants docile mouthpieces who will simply repeat and disseminate the administration’s propaganda.
That was why that White House aide was trying to grab the microphone from Acosta in the first place. Acosta had the temerity to demand an answer from Trump, and Trump became angered. Acosta is barred because he was willing to call out this administration’s dishonesty. He was doing his job as a member of the free press.
This isn’t just about Jim Acosta. This is a test for the independence of our press. When White House press conferences have no more Acostas, it will become no more than an echo chamber of sycophants.
346
@citybumpkin. You mean like they conducted themselves during the last administration.
@Ray Would you like to clarify your murky statement?
12
“If left unchallenged, the actions of the White House would create a dangerous chilling effect for any journalist who covers our elected officials.”
CNN is absolutely right to sue the Trump Administration on this matter. It is now the frontline of the war on democracy. It is completely reasonable to expect that if CNN does not challenge their actions, the White House will be emboldened to intimidate and silence any reporter or news outlet it is angry at. CNN, you have American patriots behind you!
30
@CH except that Acosta is still free to say and print anything he likes. He’s just not welcome in the White House any longer. You and I aren’t welcome in the White House either, so should we both sue? Nobody is suppressing Acosta’s free speech; he is still running his mouth at free will.
5
@Richie, who shrank your dictionary? What reason do you have to define the freedom of "the press" in that miniscule way as the ability "to say and print anything he likes"?
3
The press needs to continue to focus on covering the administration and policy decisions, rather than taking the bait and getting lost in a fight over one press pass. That said, the loss of one press pass will likely lead to the loss of more from this authoritarian-minded administration.
Revoking Acosta's pass was retaliation against a pushy reporter and news organization that the president hates, for coverage that is not favorable to him. The administration's actions here are not justified, but they are outrageous.
The press must be allowed to report on what the administration is doing, to question the administration in order to hold the administration accountable to the people, regardless of favorability. I don't watch much CNN but I'm in support of this response, Acosta did nothing wrong, I hope they win the case.
16
Thank you to CNN for standing up for the First Amendment. I have leaned on their Election Night coverage since 2008 to get an informative and balanced picture of what goes on across the country. CNN has just elevated itself as one of the defenders of our fundamental right to free speech.
22
@Casey Penk informative and balanced picture from CNN? How’d that work out on election night 2016? Did they provide an informative and balanced prediction of who would win in the months leading up to the election?
2
US Constitution Amendment I:
"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, OR OF THE PRESS; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.
Although this effort by Trump to intimidate and curtail (abridge) the free press is not an attempt by Congress to make a law, the spirit of the US Constitution in general and the First Amendment in particular couldn't be more clear:
The rights and freedoms of the people should not be abridged without due process and a very high standard of justification (a threat to public safety, for example).
Based on that fundamental principle, no legitimate judge or justice could rule against CNN in this lawsuit. But Trump and the Republicans in the Senate have spent the last two years conspiring with the Federalist Society to stack the courts with right-wing zealots and corporate-owned hacks... So nothing can be certain at this point.
Elections have consequences. The 2016 election has turned out to be an absolute tragedy.
32
@Jeff
We have laws, not spirits. This lawsuit will go down in flames, though it may be appealed all the way to SCOTUS.
2
CNN absolutely could not allow this administration to dictate which reporter it deems properly compliant to cover the White House. Anyone in public life should understand that journalists have a vital role in democracy - and they can't be ignored or dismissed just because their questions are annoying. If the administration has an issue with the behavior of a reporter, take it up with the White House Correspondents Association. There is a reason the free press is protected in the First Amendment.
34
@Lily Acosta is still free to print and say whatever he likes. Nobody is suppressing his speech. He’s just simply not welcome in the White House anymore. There is no constitutional right to step food in the white house simply because one is a journalist. There are hundreds of thousands of journalists worldwide. Certainly we don’t think they all have a constitutional right to be in the whites house. What makes Acosta more important than any of the other journalists who don’t get the invite to attend White House pressers?
6
@Richie, since when did the freedom of the press become nothing more than the ability to say what you want?
3
So, once again, the president finds the perfect foil for his WWF style show with CNN, starring Jim Acosta as a classic wrestling villain (or hero as the case may be). I am saddened that, among the great majority of NYT readers who are disgusted with our current president, so few have a problem with how CNN has decided to deal with Trump, if only for their own reputation.
First, they long ago abandoned a primary rules of journalistic ethics; Do not make yourself the news. There is a reason for this and the specifics of this story speak out for some of the reasons. It puts the reporters in the inevitable position of becoming an advocate for one of the principals in a story. While this seems to be less important to a journalism that has abandoned attempted objectivity for activism, it's absence inevitably lowers the trust that the public can have in them.
Second, as CNN is now a party to a legal action, they show the contempt that they have for poisoning the ability of civil legal system itself to act equitably, acting as cynically as a typical lawyer who's allegiance to the truth only goes as far as it is useful to their interests.
CNN should announce the facts of the suit and leave it at that. More generally, it would behoove much of the cable media to simply present Trump's obvious self-contradictory and fatuous utterances as they are instead of playing to a base in a similar way as Trump.
6
I think it was the President who made CNN the news, not CNN itself, as the President decided to defy the US Constitution and made rude comments about the press. You got it the other way around.
Journalists are part of the news stories. There’s no consensus whatsoever that they cannot be turned into stories themselves, because stories can involve anyone. The only consensus about journalism is about being fair and balance: cover both sides, give voice to both sides, and the 5W1H content of the stories. I was a journalist, so that’s why I can say this. Do you think Jamal Kashoggi could not be a story since he was a journalist? The principles are the same; the difference is just that Kashoggi’s dead, Acosta’s not; but they’re both repressed journalists.
2
@Claudian
You may well have styled yourself a journalist. Anyone can. How professional and how excellent a journalist you were is certainly questionable by your comment that "the only consensus about journalism is being fair and balanced". There are several cannons of journalistic ethics out there. The consensus among them is that the ethics code is far more complex than how you stated. One, from Ethic Net states a clause that I think is applicable here: "Neither individual journalists nor editorial teams should settle accounts via mass media. Such behavior damages not only their prestige, but the reputation of journalist's profession in general, since it undermines people's trust in the mass media. In resolving conflicts with colleagues the journalist should give priority to the jurisdiction of the journalistic association." CNN has made the story of Acosta's credential loss the main story of the past few days, garnering even more time than the CA fires. Are you willing to seriously state that this is a fair assessment by a news organization that once covered world news? It sounds more like "settling scores" to me.
Being invited into the White House is a privilege. Banning Mr. Acosta from the WH does not in any way impinge on his 1st Amendment rights to write or publish anything he wants.
14
A thoroughly confused and distorted viewpoint. The White House and its press office bear a sacred responsibility to inform the public. They are not a private enterprise that chooses who to invite in for coverage. A free press is our first line of defense against the depredations of this Administration and We the People have every right to demand their presence.
40
The White House is the people's house. The Trumps just happen to be occupying it now. Most of us probabły own a bigger share of it than the Trumps since we can't get away without paying our share of the taxes that maintain the house as they do.
A reporter doing his job has a right to be there. No privilege about it except for the one that comes from his news organization for choosing him as their representative.
12
It's not a privilege. Never was. It is the people's house. We pay for it and Trump is a civil servant working for us.
At the beginning, anyone could enter and speak to the president.
Nowadays, because of security concerns and safety, entering the buildings in and around the White House is restricted to those with special permits.
Get your history right.
Jim Acosta is not able to do this job without a permit, and is his house as well, he has paid taxes as you have, it's your house as well.
11
When will someone ask Trump "When were you aware that the birther conspiracy was all lies, and did you man up and apologize to President Obama, his family, and the nation? Or were you a coward that slunk away to the shadows?"
40
Make Censorship Great Again
Trump 2018
Make Burnt Facts and Doctored Videos Great Again
Sarah Huckabee Sanders 2018
Welcome to America's Trump Toilet
"Only the most deplorable people..."
49
I wonder if this lawsuit has any hope. A president is not required to give press conferences. The choice could be to give a speech or an interview to one or more selected journalists. If a president does give a press conference, isn't it more in the public interest to allow the president to curtail or exclude one or more of the participants rather than to discontinue the press conference? The president will be judged in the court of public opinion for his actions, the media will do its reporting one way or the other. I wonder if this is a matter for the courts.
8
@GBC1
Maybe the press should leave Trump to conduct his 'press conferences' to an empty room. We would not be any worse off without these charades. They are an excuse for Trump and his lackeys such as Sanders to get attention. They are not truthful, they are not informative.
3
@farhorizons
The press has that option. The president doesn't have to hold a press conference, the media is free not to attend. Any member of the press is free to report as he/she sees fit, whether they attend or not.
2
@GBC1 In reading through the comments, it's pretty clear that we have failed to educate our citizens on the basic tenants of our freedoms, how they work, when they apply and when they do not. The president is not required to speak to the press, however, once he does so, he cannot decide who attends and who does not based on his opinion of their brand of journalism or his dislike of their line of questioning. He doesn't get to promote one form of content over another. Only dictators get to do that. I don't understand why Trump would think he can, she said with tongue planted in cheek.
2
Just remember - in addition to avoiding the questions, Trump insulted the reporter and the intern was in the awkward position of trying to retrieve the microphone, invading the reporter's space, not the other way around.
Less than just presidential, Mr. Trump does not act professional nor does he act appropriately in normal interactive speaking.
If they could, the WH would void all press conferences ... come to think of it, they almost have already.
33
I support CNN. This nation is moving into fascism; a key element of fascism is government control of the press and information. We need to guard against trump's control of information, now principally aided by Right Wing media, tabloids and social media, and Sarah Huckabee Sanders, who is an unreliable press secretary.
What exacerbates this situation is trump's control of Fox Noise. It makes it even more imperative that we have a free press that reports the truth (the little trumpkins in our trumpland will call responsible reporting, "fake news").
The trumpkins are another way trump controls information, because they reinforce trump's recalcitrant behavior. Thus, they'll support trump's suspension of Jim Acosta with absolutely no understanding of its ramifications to our individual liberty.
It's going to be one long, hard struggle to regain our democracy. The CNN lawsuit is another step forward in that struggle.
32
@Charles Read "How Fascism Works" and "How Propaganda Works" by Jason Stanley. There is no question that trump and his republican enablers would prefer a fascist dictatorship and are heading us in that direction.
8
I seriously believe Sarah Palin would make a better president than Trump.
15
@Dro: Really great comment, and I think you're right. If we look at the seventeen Republican presidential primary candidates of 2016, trump is the worst one. Trump got away with the nomination by insulting the frontrunners; Republican primary voters were too dumb and believed trump.
Some of those primary candidates had some controversy, for example Carly Fiorina. But Fiorina had run a major corporation; she is far better the businessperson than is trump with his six bankruptcies, hundreds of lawsuits, deviously opaque financial activities and mom-and-pop organization, ending in a reality TV show.
Sarah Palin had been the governor of a state. Trump today is showing us that he can't govern anything except his churlish little trumpkins in our trumpland.
4
The 71ish year old child cannot string together a complete sentence without using racist, hateful, angry words. The reason he is revoking press credientials is because he cannot & will not answer questions put to him. He hears what he wants to hear & answers to the imaginary questions. The press should submit written questions so Sarah Hillbilly can give him the answers he needs to make the lies seem less like a lie. When he can respect the citizens of the country, then they might respect him. After all, the press is only asking about things he has himself said. He should shut up if he doesn't want those questions to come forward.
28
He can't string together a complete sentence, period. The man is practically incoherent.
4
I hate Trump, but let's admit Mr. Acosta's schtick is wearing thin. Reinstate the credentials with the promise he will moderate his behavior.
7
@Tornadoxy
Try to spell the German word "shtick"(from German stück--thing) correctly. Since when does the president decide who is and who is not "respectful", particularly among the press.? From now on, every reporter has to fear that he/she will be ejected if Trump decides his or her questions do not meet his standard of respect. This from a man who respects no one, including himself, unless they bow down to him.
4
@Alan J. Shaw Seems to me Trump is actually trying to provoke controversy, as usual, by calling on Mr. Acosta. He could just as well not call on him at all if his comportment bothers him, but he enjoys this verbal jousting, and headline making. Point taken on "shtick". Doesn't Mr. Acosta understand he is being used?
@Tornadox
It's actually futile for reporters to ask Trump, Sanders or any administration official policy questions, because they will get no real answers and will be disparaged. Through his twitter account, which the press, including the Times, must report because he is president, he will always get "the last word," no matter how false and inane , as witness his tweets on Macron and the Paris disaster. It's not about honoring those who sacrificed their lives in WWII, it's about French and US wines. It would be better if reporters asked him factual questions like who is Frederic Douglas, where is Belleau Wood and what is the Somme? Neither he, nor any of his benighted followers could pass a high school history test or one for US citizenship.
2
Man I am so tired of this Trump has to answer tough questions.... what was the tough question Acosta asked? " Mr Pres why do you call it an invasion when most people do not " ...Trump "because that's what I think it is" But Mr Pres why do you call it an invasion .. because that's what I think it is ..... Why do you call it an invasion .. because that's what I think it is. .. Everyone knows why Trump calls it an invasion, it helps with his anti-brown immigration base. And he answered the question four times. I guess he should have said .. yea your right .. it's not an invasion. Then Acosta would be happy?.. Please, Acosta and most of the white house press corp wouldn't know a tough question if it hit them in the face. Acosta thinks it's all about him. It's so obvious. Why doesn't CNN just send a different reporter? They are so out of touch most of the time it's pathetic.
11
@Doctor Woo
You're right. CNN is not a hard-hitting news outlet, that's for sure. It's entertainment. Once CNN was an up-to-date breaking news pioneer. No longer; now it breaks entertaining, attention-getting events, not important news. So while I think Trump was his usual bullying, arrogant narcissistic self when he pulled Acost's credentials, and while I think CNN should challenge this, I don't think CNN 'journalists' would be missed. Cooper is a pretty boy with a famous mother. Acosta is a grandstander. Wolf is a has-been. Let's put real news analysts on CNN.
4
Someone has to rein this joke of a “president” and his lackeys in. Bravo CNN!
20
I’m beginning to understand why Trump has been involved in thousands of lawsuits. What a dolt. Second GOP dolt in a row in the presidency.
24
None of this would've taken place in a normal world, a world now gone by.
Trump thinks he's running a reality show, not a Presidency. Trump orchestrated the exchange, intentionally provoking and elevating the exchange including placing the intern in the room with instructions to grab the microphone.
There are no limits to how low this pathetic and petulant man-baby will sink the Presidency.
16
Acosta is not a journalist, he is a propagandist. His behavior showed disrespect to the real journalists in the room and revoking his access was the proper and courageous thing to do.
13
@jaco
Because... the Beloved Leader's assertions shouldn't be questioned? All Acosta did was try to get him to defend his extraordinary assertions and actions. Apparently he can't.
10
@jaco: Nope!
5
@jaco
Asking questions of the president is not "propaganda"
Doctoring a video and lying about it IS propaganda.
Adults know the difference.
3
I fully support CNN's stance. Treading lightly around bullies Trump, Sanders et al may be considered by some in the network and Acosta's corner as the "higher" way to go but that will only encourage Trump & Co. to make an even further clean sweep of other dedicated press corps journalists who have been threatened with the axe. Whatever one thinks of Jim Acosta's 'style' and perceived 'showboating' the fact is he possesses all the great qualities of a dedicated, hard working journalist : asking the tough questions no matter how intimidating Trump and Sanders present themselves.
20
This is a lawsuit that Trump will lose. Whether he likes it or not he is bound by the Constitution.The founders of the country knew that despots had to be controlled. More frustration for Trump means more reckless and unhinged responses from Trump.Perilous times ahead. At the end of the day Trump will not prevail.
21
@Milton Lewis, yes, Trump should lose the lawsuit; but I say "should" because, if it comes before one of his hand-picked judges, I feel pretty sure that they will find a technicality with which to throw it out. That's how totalitarian governments work, and it is nauseating how far down that road we have come in just two tragic trumpian years.
4
"Mr. Acosta, who has a reputation as a showboat among some his press corps colleagues..."
Hehehehehe. Nice one, NYT.
Seriously though, this is not on CNN or Mr. Acosta. This lawsuit, stemming from this incident, is a direct result of how Mr. Trump has continually and repeatedly attacked the press - all the press, period - during his presidency. Those of us watching from the outside have wondered how reporters have kept their cool for so long in the face of the insane rhetoric and disrespect.
Mr. Trump has no one to blame but himself for this mess.
37
@htg
So you are saying that Trump is responsible for Acosta's refusal to hand the mic to the intern once his turn to ask a question was over?
5
@James, the refusal to hand over the mic is only one of three or four successive reasons given by the White House (to date, anyway) for the revocation of the pass; why believe that one, or any of them? Why give Trump the benefit of the doubt given his history of vicious and deeply undemocratic verbal assaults on the press?
5
Acosta wasn't asking a question. He was debating the meaning of the word "invasion". That is not his job as a journalist but it does highlight the problem now-a-days with the press corps. They insist on imposing their subjective views of things. Just report the facts and then the rest of us can decide if 5000 immigrants marching on our southern border is an "invasion" or not.
15
Yeah, inflate the numbers and slant the description, then claim objectivity. Or to put it another way, FOX everything up.
5
@Billy H.*** right on the money
3
I am surprised CNN didn’t add a libel/slander suit as well. I know those are difficult to win and the burden of proof is on the plaintiff, but between the continued anti-media rhetoric and propaganda video of the “arm chop,” surely there is some ground to stand on with this?
20
Mr Trump will love this, he thrives on conflicts. But he will obviously lose this one. Go CNN!
15
I hope the court decides in favor of CNN very soon. With Mr. Acosta standing in front row let's see the methods used to avoid giving him a chance. Most likely the number of press conferences will go down from negligible to close to zero.
15
Congratulations to CNN for great courage, ethics, and defense of the First Amendment. More shame heaped on Trump and his party minions for attempting to control the media. Freedom of the press belongs to everyone in the U.S. and Trump's attempts to stop it are nothing short of totally reprehensible, unethical and un-presidential. Go CNN!
12
Whether Mr. Acosta 'placed his hands on' a White House intern or touched her (which he did indeed do) is not relevant. Mr. Acosta's behaviour was totally inappropriate. He was aggressive and disrespectful of the U.S. president. He also began his 'question' by saying, "I'd like to 'challenge' you ..." Journalists ask questions and seek facts; they don't issue challenges.
In a way, I hope, lawsuit or not, that Mr. Acosta is re-admitted to the presidential press briefings and that President Trump never calls on him again.
35
It would be good if a few people actually ‘challenged’ the president directly. We all know the Republicans seem to have lost that ability.
214
@Ann P
Here in the US respect for a government leader does not include not asking them questions they don't like. Respect and fear are two different things here. Acosta was completely respectful and Unindicted Co-conspirator was not. Here in the US being president doesn't give you the right to act inappropriately.
157
@Ann P You're just playing with semantics. If Mr Acosta had not said "I'd like to challenge you" then where is your critique? He was himself asking a question about the use of the word "invasion" to describe the caravan of asylum seekers. Asking questions, whether challenging or simply to ask about a choice of tie, is all part of the job. I had no problem when journalists challenged Obama, and I have no problem when journalists challenge Trump. It's called holding people in power accountable.
183
Yes, yes, and yes. After hearing that this was a possible action for CNN to take, I was hoping they would go ahead and file a suit.
22
This reminds me: I'm sure many readers have seen interviews and press conferences given by British, French, and perhaps other presidents. It is incredible how probing and intelligent the questions are and how thoughtful the answers. The Daily Show did a side-by-side comparison of a Tony Blair Q&A with one by W a few years ago and the contrast was both hilarious and pitiful. American presidents are just not as quick on their feet as, say, a Tony Blair or an Emmanuel Macron. Theresa May falls short a bit because of her untenable situation with Brexit and associated problems, and Trump falls way short because he doesn't do his homework and he makes things up, but in the end he fits in culturally here, whereas he would be tossed out in a second in Europe.
25
@ss Prime Ministers under the Westminster form of parliamentary government usually appear once a week for a half hour or hour on the floor of the House to answer questions posed by the elected members of all parties. Nothing keeps a leader on his or her toes as having to answer to the people's representatives on a regular basis.
18
Boycott all media coverage of DJT; he thrives on exposure, good, bad or indifferent. A classic textbook case of NPD. He doesn't need an audience...he needs professional help. My Mute button is wearing out long before it has in the past, is a new one deductible?
23
What is going on at the NY Times. I posted one of the first comments on this article and it was one of the most favored.
Now it's gone. I did not "break" any comment rules. Someone or something does not want my comments to be read. Why? They are always about saving OUR democracy. Here is what I said:
Good Job, CNN! Do NOT let The Con Don get away with attacking OUR first amendment rights to a free, unfettered press.
WE THE PEOPLE depend on the media to keep us informed about what the 0.01% Robber Barons are doing so WE can stop them.
Why was this comment removed? Inquiring minds want to know.
25
@njglea
Things are screwey around here lately. Just read through the list of comments and you'll find a section where a dozen are suddenly repeated.
Also, replies get published immediately, but comments lag by hours.
7
The freedom of the press to report without fear or favor must be protected against childish, petulant moves such as this one. The administration must be forced to defend its reasoning in court, and must not be alllowed to justify this action by simply posting an obviously doctored video on twitter! Go CNN!
574
If Acosta would apologize for his rude behavior than maybe his press pass would be returned for the White House. Was it unreasonable to expect civil and tempered actions at the White House press conference? I think not. Too many reporters wrongly think that they can belittle and mock people during press conferences. There is a reason why a press pass is called a pass and not a license. A pass can be revoked at any time. I really don't get the arrogance of the press now. Never before has a news organization waged war in both coverage and questioning of a sitting US President. CNN and other news agencies feel emboldened because of the vile and condescending statements made by Democrats at President Trump. I'm surprised it took this long for the President to get fed up with the rude behavior of Jim Acosta.
10
@Rich T
Lets make a bet. When Trump apologizes first, then Acosta goes next.
Trump started it.
8
Respect is earned, Donald is a bully!
15
@matty You already lost that bet. Jim Acosta started it. President Trump answered Jim's question and then Jim decided to get on a soapbox and argue with the President. Then the President said as a reminder that You (Jim) can run CNN and I (President) will run the country. President Trump pointed to another reporter to allow more questions by others. Jim Acosta continued with his ranting and President Trump got irritated, pointed and said that is enough. The aide was pushed away when she attempted to get the mike from Acosta and that when the President really went off. So how did the President start "IT"? Acosta is a sleaze trying to make President Trump the villain.
2
The press is an essential foundation of a democracy, keeping elected officials honest, reporting on malfeasance and hypocrisy, and keeping the public up to date on policies and decisions made. It is important that all government officials up to and including Trump understand that the press in all its forms is not meant to be a cheerleader for any particular administration (with the blatant exception of Fox News of course). Trump cannot pick and choose the reporters in the press room other than picking them one by one to ask questions. I am old enough to remember the aggressive questioning of Sam Donaldson and Dan Rather years ago. If Jim Acosta reminiscent of them, it is a good thing. The US is a democracy and the press is not an arm of the government. If you want a press like that in Russia or North Korea that worships the leader of the country, you are looking in the wrong place. Remember the role of the press in exposing the Watergate and Iran-Contra scandals and so much more. That is the role of the press with an informed electorate.
I hope that CNN prevails in court. The Trump administration must be held to account on too many issues to enumerate here. They signed up for scrutiny when they took the jobs. Despite the assertion by Conway that lies are alternate facts, we all know better.
48
@Judy
Excellent post Judy! Sadly, you have entirely too many people in this country who seem to have lost even basic understanding of what our form of government is supposed to look like, including the critical job the press is supposed to be performing for us (the people of this country). If anything, the current MSM due to a number of issues, not the least of which is the overwhelming ownership of news outlets by corporate interests (the profit motive and big money has corrupted just about every corner of our society, from politics to the corporate media), is being to deferential and not insistent enough with the powers that be to ferret out information we the people need to know to be adequately informed about what our government is doing with our money and in our name.
2
Ha, more CNN hyperbole......that will do nowhere.
CNN- persona non grata!
5
"What a stupid question, that's a stupid question. I watch you alot, you ask alot of stupid questions"--Jim Acosta? Naw--The President aka Mr. Hypocrisy
60
News media should boycott WH press conference until Acosta gets credentials back.Trump is destroying Democracy; fight back. Ray Sipe
37
Trump just rigged the United States Supreme Court, so all the administration needs to do is keep appealing any negative ruling, right?
24
Was he barred?
I thought he had won a prize.
1
The video shows Acosta refused to surrender the microphone and physically repelled a White House aide who tried to take it from him. He uses the White House press conference to debate the president, not to ask questions.
20
@William Case She "attacked" first. He was bodily touched by her before he "repelled" her hand.
16
@William Case
Are you referring to the doctored version from infowars?
16
@Nostradamus Said
The video shows Acosta pushed her hand away as she tried to take the microphone and pass it to another reporter. She did not touch him but merely reached for the microphone. Acosta resisted. The video clearly shows he broke press conference rules by refusing to relinquish the microphone.
3
I don't see this as a Freedom of the Press issue. I see this as removing a pass from a reporter who is so boorish and lacking in manners that he does not belong in polite society. After all CNN could just as easily send another reporter who would get the hard pass.
There is nothing so precious about Jim Acosta that we should endure his bad manners. Frankly had I been that intern I would have pummeled him till I got that microphone back. His hanging on to a microphone when he was asked to give it to another reporter does nothing but demonstrate what a sleaze he is.
17
@judyweller
Gosh, I sure would like to have you explain to all of us about Mitch McConnell hanging onto that Supreme Court seat and refusing to follow the Constitution on his duty to "Advise and Consent".
Was he just being a "bore" - or should we have "pummeled him" for hanging onto it too long?
So, Mitch is a "sleaze"?
When is a Supreme Court seat like a microphone...?
9
@judyweller
The only one boorish and lacking manners is tRump.
8
@judyweller, your advocacy of authoritarian violence goes hand-in-hand with your unashamed use of some variant of the Confederate Battle Flag as your little NYT avatar. It sounds as if you prize the enforcement of a code of supposed politeness over the rule of law. Obviously you aren't bothered in the least by Trump's lack of politeness, so you must have some other basis for your opinion. And not to infer too much from your anticonstitutional sympathies, but a lot of lynchings were committed as a way of enforcing manners and social position; I hope you will re-read the First Amendment and think about Trump's real motivation and whether his act fits in our democratic tradition at all.
5
Bravo, CNN!
62
Okay, is Mr. Acosta no longer able to report for CNN? Is Mr. Acosta no longer able to report about the White House? Is Mr. Acosta not able to discuss politics with anyone?
What gives Mr. Acosta or CNN (or any news organization for that matter) the constitutional right to have "regular and unescorted access to the White House and White House briefings"?
I am pretty well read up on the wording of the Constitution and even the 1st and 5th Amendments to said Constitution. Not sure I remember any part of the main document or either of those amendments which say that a person (or an organization) have the right to "regular and unescorted access" to any federal facility.
16
@Keith Uh...did you read the part about freedom of the press?
18
Keith, the Administration formally granted Acosta the right to regular and unescorted access to the White House pursuant to policies adopted by the Executive Branch. Those rights don't have to be listed in the Bill of Rights to be protected from arbitrary revocation. No one is saying that a press pass can never be taken away; they are saying that a press pass cannot be taken away without justification and as a means of muzzling the press.
5
@Dubious. So basically you are saying that once a press pass is given, it cannot be revoked unless they are given a full trial and are supposed to be allowed to continue with their stupidity in the mean time.
Can CNN not make someone else their WH correspondent?
How is Acosta being muzzled? As I said, is he not allowed to report?
Can anyone just walk into the CNN studios and start talking about anything they want? Have you ever seen a CNN correspondent/anchor cut off a person and suddenly end an interview? By your standard that should not be done because everyone gets to ask any question they want and can say anything they want for as long as they want.
4
I'd like to see the rest of the White House press pool boycott the press briefings until Acosta's credentials are re-instated. Even though they're little more than propaganda the freedom of the press is at stake.
20
How about we elect a public servant next time.
96
Funny, his due process rights violated. There is nothing that says that the White House or President has to give anyone including the Press passes. If the President wanted he could convert the current Press room to the pool which sits under its floor.
12
@Joe P He has no use for a swimming pool. That would require him to stop tweeting.
5
But once the White House does give people press passes and adopts regulations and policies governing their withdrawal, why in the world would you find it acceptable for a president to arbitrarily revoke a pass on the basis of nothing other than his dislike of a particular news outlet?
4
@Dubious but he wasn't following the policy and kept asking questions even after he asked his one or two .
2
There is an easy way to solve this. Jim just has to get on stage and praise Trump at a political rally the way the folks at FOX did. Too bad the Republicans are not as supportive of the first amendment as they are of the second amendment.
35
This suit is a joke. First Acosta's First Amendment rights aren't violated by removing the pass. He can still saying as many bad things about Trump as he wants. Second, unless he has a property interest in the pass, the pass can be removed at will by the administration. Third naming all the other people who had no role in the decision to remove the pass is silly and petty. Why name the poor Secret Service guy who took the pass, it's just petty.
58
As petty as revoking a press pass because you don’t like the questions asked?
145
@James - CNN isn't saying Acosta's free speech rights were violated. They seem to be invoking the section on freedom of the press, and also the Constitution's guarantee of due process.
If the suit is indeed "a joke", the court will throw it out. We'll see.
61
This is the starting point of press suppression. If CNN didn’t sue, other members of the media would be removed by this administration. That’s a very dangerous thing.
147
Trump's vilification of the free press should not go unchallenged. The president should not be in the business of revoking press passes because someone has asked him an unportable question and then justifying his action with a doctored video.
71
These charges are impeachable offenses. If Trump is found guilty of violating the Constitution, he should be impeached.
49
Absolutely right. The only reason Trump doesn't know how like a dictator he sounds is that he's deeply ignorant of history.
4
An oppositional press is good for the country. Please keep asking the tough questions, don't accept non answers, keep a cool head while being provoked, and shed light on the dark corners, sides, and center of Trump and this administration.
625
@Nancy
Yes. And the Press must stand unified. If Trump moves on to another reporter without answering a question... that next reporter needs to ask the same question. If you give in, you in effect support his behavior.
49
@Tom I believe the Press should report the President's opinions like any other president regardless of politics. Free Press does not mean standing united against anyone or anything. It means reporting facts. What the President says is a fact. Opinions about it belong on the Opinion Page, not as part of a reporter's question. A bit of civility, please. At least from the left....
3
@Tom
Right you are Tom! What appears to be a less than enthusiastic response from the rest of the media to this is just as troubling as the WH and Trump's actions in this incident. But I guess the corporate nature of the current MSM has done a better job of "restraining" the media from holding power accountable than anything the government and the likes of Trump and his numerous wannabes has done.
3
Acosta did not place his hands on her but he did karate chop at her arm, sped up or not. That much is very clear. He is also a grandstander and continues arguing with Trump and denies others from asking questions, even after Trump has given him minutes of time.
38
@Jay Lincoln
It is a press conference.
If Trump is too frail to handle questions, as it appears he is, he can retire back to his TV room where sycophants from his entertainment channel can tell him what he wants to hear.
303
She was raising her arm as he was lowering his. It only looked like a karate chop once it was sped up.
In any case, since this administration is saying he was banned because he touched her once, the fact is that she touched him four times. By that reasoning, she should be banned for assault.
109
@Jay Lincoln He is tenacious, no doubt. The more Trump goes at him, the more Acosta feels it is his duty to persevere and bring us the news. All the news. He doesn't lie, disrespect, misreport, or otherwise.
Yes, he persists. And we want him to.
57
Another brick in the wall. Will there be a trial? On TV?? What about Fox?
We continue to be provided with bread and circuses, defined online as "a diet of entertainment or political policies on which the masses are fed to keep them happy and docile."
6
Yes, Please. And Banish SHS--Self Humiliating Spectacle--don't know how she crawls to work cause obviously in posture for grovel............
25
Thank you, CNN.
I watched that zoo and have come to the conclusion that trump is unhinged.
Add to this his calling a reporter, "silly", "stupid", "horsefaced", implying that other women are "low-I.Q.", and this is simply hate-speech.
I've had enough.
His lies, at the point of the election, were up to 30 a day.
Let me repeat that: THIRTY A DAY!
We need a president - but we don't need this one! Nor do we need his Krooked Kabinet or the murky silence of the shadowy Republicans.
I'm delighted that the President is being sued.
I'm sure that Mr. Khan still has his copy of the Constitution that he would be pleased to loan to the president.
It's still not too late to read it, trump....
204
@rosa It is possible that he is incapable of reading.
5
The press has accepted non-answers and falsehoods far too often without challenging them in this admin. Hurrah for CNN, MSNBC, BBC, etc.
125
@opinions for free
The press has accepted non-answers in many previous administrations, so there's nothing new there.
4
Necessary but high stakes. If CNN loses ....
6
BRILLIANT. . .finally a news organization takes action against our greatest and growing threat to rule of law. . .The Trump-Pence regime.
107
CNN has some heavy hitters on the legal team, like Ted Olson. However, I can’t see them winning this suit as Mr. Acosta can perform his job outside the WH. Moreover, even if CNN should win and Acosta recovers his press pass. he will be ostracized by all the WH officials. I can’t see this coming out on the winning side for CNN.
10
His mere presence in the press room would be a victory against this fascist regime.
14
@Brad, Mr. Acosta's job is based on asking the President questions and hearing the questions that other reporters ask him. There's no way that he can do that outside the White House. Trump's revocation of the pass is the very definition of arbitrary and capricious. The fact that the White House is already onto its third or fourth explanation for the revocation is proof that there is no basis for it at all.
7
CNN should add libel and defamation of character to their charges.
99
@EB
Given that Acosta is a public figure, it would be very hard to win on those grounds.
2
@James
Yeah, actual malice must be shown...but that's easy...it's the Trump WH we're talking about here
5
Unfortunately Trump is winning the war on the press. This is bad news for our constitution and freedom of the press. The answer is not boycott Trump's and Sander's press conferences.
One suggestion that I think will be helpful is for a senior Democratic official to hold a weekly press conference and for the press corp to enthusiastically support, attend and report on this press conference. The format could be simply to answer questions (from a Democratic perspective obviously) that Trump/Sanders refuse to answer or lie with their answers. Of course other topics could be addressed. I am sure there are enough Democratic senators and representatives that would be willing to hold this conference.
The Democrats should also appoint a press secretary.
Trump is monopolizing the airwaves. This approach could start to whittle away at Trump's stranglehold on the press corps.
159
@LC
Good suggestion. Where are the Dems? Are they not talking or just not being covered? All the Dems would have to do is have a spokesperson answer the same questions posed to Trump based on, you know, the facts. The contrast would be stunning.
16
@LC I actually think the opposite is true: Trump is being given enough rope to hang himself, with his constant appearances, tweets and pronoucements. We're all sick of seeing and hearing him, and with every new event, it becomes clearer that our president seems unhinged.
10
@flatland Oh, I agree that his comments border on insanity but it still has not changed the perception of the press. They are viewed as less trustworthy than Republicans and congress as a whole. Perhaps if the press participated in regular, normal, sane press conferences with Democrats on issues and questions that the Trump camp repeatedly lies and misinforms about, the perception of the press can improve. And I am not saying the press should "collude" with Democrats in these press conferences. But I truly believe that the Democrats can be more honest than Trump in addressing issues and that over time this will improve the image of the press and the Democrats.
11
Every day, Trump and his administration try new and frightening ways to curtail democracy. Sadly, they have already succeeded at far too many of their attempts. CNN, thank you for standing up and fighting back to keep freedom of the press alive. I hope that journalists of all stripes support your efforts.
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Having Ms Sanders under oath explaining her slowed down/sped up video from a conspiracy site to a judge as an accurate portrayal of the event should be interesting.
She should have been fired for that- taxpayers should not be paying for propaganda out of this WH.
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@Kay Johnson
The slowed down version of the video shows the dame thing as the speeded up video. Acosta refused to surrender the microphone and physically repelled a White House aide who tried to take it from him.
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@William Case
The issue is not "surrendering the mic".
The issue is tampering with the video by combining speeds to create a false impression.
The "official story" from Trump's WH then became twisted into one of a journalist "laying hands on a young lady".
The huffy self-righteous indignation from Ms Sanders about preserving the rights of female aide from a predator situation was a completely fabricated lie.
That is called Propaganda my friend.
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While that intern was all over Acosta in trying to take that microphone away. She was like an octopus!
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Go get 'em CNN! Many, many of us fully support this.
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This story fails to state the law requiring that a pass to press conferences must be issued to anyone. Nor is there a law that press conferences must be given at all. Nor that government officials must answer any questions unless a subpoena is issued. CNN has no "right" to do anything but publish what they want.
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@TED338
The president has the right to answer or not answer any question that he wishes, but he doesn't have the right to falsely accuse a journalist of accosting one of his assistance because he doesn't like the question. It's too bad that Trump doesn't like being caught in a lie. The simple solution to that is, stop lying.
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@TED338. Are you saying that a president has the power to dictate to the press who they use as reporters? Sounds like a dictatorship power.
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Ted, you don't think the Executive Branch or the Secret Service has adopted policies or regulations regarding the issuance of press passes? I'm willing to bet that it has. Those rules can only be applied in a way that complies with the Bill of Rights. The ability to ask questions at a press conference has never been a "gift" of the President to the press, and the Executive can't start treating it that way now.
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Trump would like to violate the Constitution, but no one gets to tell the free press to sit down and shut up in this country including him. (Also, he’s not above the law).
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Good Luck CNN! It is about time the White House is challenged on its treatment of the press.
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Thank you CNN and Jim Acosta for standing up to Trump's tyranny.
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We are on our way into dictatorship.
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@Two in Memphis
Not if we act, act now & act with purpose.
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The trump defense:
He's only been in office for two years, and the Constitution is really long. He hasn't made it to the Amendments yet.
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Way to go ! I am so glad they included Sanders and the other minions.
Question I have is who pays for the legal fees ?
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@Ellen Fishman, #Metoo survivor
I HOPE it’s pro bono.
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Hopefully this will set a good precedent, making it clear that Freedom of the Press is essential, necessary, and allowed in America!
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@Asher This does not limit Freedom of the Press. It merely sets a bar on boorish behaviour by louts. Another reporter from CNN I am sure could get a hard pass. The issue is the piggish and rude behaviour of JIm Acosta.
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@judyweller I hope this lawsuit sets a bar on the boorish, piggish, and rude behavior of the lout in the Oval Office.
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@judyweller
Trump telling some reporter that her question about the Russia investigation is "stupid" and that "she asks a lot of stupid questions" is what is rude and juvenile.
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