I suggest that the media run a daily headline enumerating and recording the new lies coming from Trump along with a "greatest hits" list of his lies over the last 3yrs. The lies should all be branded as lies. No "whataboutism" . Faux News will try their best to ignore the truth but foreign sources of news will follow. Eg. When Trump spoke to the UN General Assembly last month , the world laughed at him. He of course did not understand why !
America , you are better than the Trump-Kushner crime family and their abettors ………….. aren`t you ?
1
Memories are short.Does no one remember Dan Rather’s famous pointed questions to Richard Nixon and to subsequent presidents for that matter.Presidents who lie and bluff and refuse questions are the enemies of a free press.If Mr.Trump can’t stand the heat he should not hold press conferences which he sees as a means to get his views broadcast.The press are not his mouthpiece , except for Fox News, and they have a right to ask questions and get answers.This thin skinned White House bans anyone who strays from talking points.Dan Rather never had his press credentials pulled and Jim Acosta also should not.
12
The Acosta matter is an example of Trump's bellicosity turned up and created for tv. POTUS berates the press in general and CNN specifically and runs press conferences like the bully he is. This contretemps is all land and no cattle and only slightly worse than Sanders so-called press conferences where truth is a foggy distraction. Better than no press showing up, how about showing up but sitting mutely as cattle. Trump's rallies are Exhibit A for his utter contempt for the press whether for show or more. Apparently, many of his followers agree with the incivility and un-American expressions condemning one of the pillars of democracy, a free press.
1
The news media should stick together on this. I'm not sure exactly what a boycott would look like - easier said than done. However, I think that the media community should refuse to air/show any video of President Trump until Jim Acosta's pass is reinstated and the tone changes. The goal would be to stop Trump from speaking directly to the American public. The media can still quote him and discuss him (his policies, his behavior, etc.) but we should not let him "own the platform" by showing him speaking.
1
It’s time the White House Press Corp stepped up to protect their right for any reporter to ask any question any they think is appropriate at any time.
If they don’t stand up for themselves, who do they think us going to do it for them?
Boycott the White House press conferences.
But, seeing as that probably won’t happen (so many reasons/excuses for inaction), at every White House press conference from now on, reporters from all credible news organisations should collaborate to take turns to stand up and ask the exact same, perfectly reasonable and relevant question that Jim Acosta asked about Donald Trump’s characterisation of the migrants fleeing from harm.
Same question. One per presser. Every presser.
4
The press has a job to do and the president needs to let them do it. But Acosta has being pushing the limits for months making himself the story. When a reporter allows himself to become the story he has made a mistake. He should acknowledge that he may have gone too far in the heat of the moment and then they should give him back his pass.
8
Another poignant and useful quote.
"A cantankerous press, an obstinate press, an ubiquitous press must be suffered by those in authority in order to preserve the even greater values of freedom of expression and the right of the people to know...It is the free flow of information so that the public will be informed about the Government and its actions. These are troubled times. There is no greater safety valve for discontent and cynicism about the affairs of Government than freedom of expression in any form. This has been the genius of our institutions throughout our history. It is one of the marked traits of our national life that distinguish us from other nations under different forms of government."
Murray Gurfein June 19, 1971 in United States v. N.Y. Times Co., 328 F. Supp. 324, 331 (S.D.N.Y. 1971).
2
Strangely, Ms. Sanders doesn't hold her boss to the same high standards that were applied to Mr. Acosta. If I remember correctly, her boss admitted to laying his hands on many women...on tape, no less. Can his credentials be revoked too?
6
Unless and until Mr. Acosta's White House press pass is restored, every other journalist and valid news operation should cease their White House press coverage.
That would leave the pretenders from Fox News and a couple of other wingnuts sitting there to be lied to by Sarah Sanders and the president himself. It would also more accurately portray the travesty that is the Trump administration.
3
Accountability -- Trump hates and fears it, because he knows how corrupt he and his cohorts are. His temper tantrum with Jim Acosta arose out of this fear of accountability.
He is now plotting to quickly derail the Mueller investigation before the indictments can be revealed.
3
I agree the press should stand with CNN, and that Sanders should resign for using a doctored tape.
But the original questions still need to be answered: in the Trump ad, why are Democrats blamed for releasing Luis Bracamontes, when in fact it was Joe Arpaio that released him? And how can Trump not be a racist if he approved that ad in the first place?
6
What was telling in this whole episode with Acosta was the audience reaction to Trump’s remarks to Peter Alexander who tried to say a few words in Acosta’s defense. The whole room roared with laughter when Trump said, “well, I am not a big fan of your either…”. This was less a press conference and more of a circus and Trump, Carnival Barker in Chief, was in his element.
The media plays into president’s schtick. When I listen to Acosta’s questions, I wonder, “what do you expect Trump to say?” Things will only get better when they start to ask questions that are smart and thoughtful and do not allow Trump to simply brush them off with a flippant “fake news” response.
2
To those who think the press should boycott all of Trump’s rallies and PR events, please pause and give your reasoning a second thought. Just think of all the flagrant violations of political norms and common decency that have occurred at probably each and every one of them. From encouraging the frenzied crowd in the “lock her up” chant to extolling the virtues of assaulting hecklers and body slamming reporters, to stirring racist sentiments and outright lying to those assembled, Trump has demonstrated his unfitness to represent, much less lead our nation. It is imperative that we be informed. We need to absorb the visuals of the angry crowds on both sides of the debate. We need to have the lies exposed. We need the fourth estate at every scene asking questions, demanding answers then informing the public. The well crafted words ring absolutely true, “Democracy dies in darkness.”
2
I stand with Jim Acosta. It is true that he was being a little aggressive and persistent in his questioning. And that is his job. It is obvious that the two men have little regard for each other. But president Trump has targeted Jim Acosta from the outset. He has repeatedly called him names and defiled the important job that the press must do. It is difficult to show respect when one does not receive any. President Trump respects no one but himself. It is obvious. The free press and journalists and their mandate must be protected. I hope that journalists everywhere will stand with Jim Acosta.
4
What's dismaying to me, is that Trump's deranged behavior (is THAT what they mean by "Trump Derangement Syndrome?), and his personal attacks on Acosta, in front of the entire nation, have been almost completely ignored by the press. It's not even a topic of discussion. All the stories and editorials are focused on Acosta, and on his interaction with the intern. There is seemingly no outrage whatsoever at Trump's rude and bullying behavior. It wasn't just conduct unbecoming a president: it was conduct beyond the pale.
9
If Acosta was doing his job reporting the news instead of trying to be the news he would not find himself in this position. Fact is the man has been acting like a three year old having a temper tantrum for months. I am shocked that others in the briefings have not called him out on his childish behavior that is more of a distraction from real news and only accomplishes Acosta becoming the headline.
As someone who is not part of the media and just an observer it is the type of behavior he displays that has helped the media lose credibility with the public. Those in the media just really can not accept how you are being viewed by those outside your elite bubble. In closing, this situation comes down to one thing ,Acosta needs to learn how to act like an adult.
9
Its called "speaking truth to power" and we need more of it
2
Trump has made a sad joke of the free press. The problem is the free press has participated in the joke, and its own demise.
First, let's be clear and honest in reporting news. When a president or any elected official tells blatant lies, the press should not pull punches in reporting the lies and naming the official an official liar. The press has only recently been willing to call a lie a lie, but still refrains from calling the liar a liar.
Second, the press needs to stop allowing competition to divide them. The press should understand that every member, every organization of the press is vulnerable to Trump's abuses of power. The press must stand together or fall, one at a time. Lock arms with Mr. Acosta, demand his White House press credentials be restored. Be prepared to state that over and over, refusing to change the subject.
Third, the press needs to call out propaganda organizations which pose as the press; they give the free press a bad image. Fox is well known to be nothing more than a Republican propaganda outlet. Make that understanding official; treat/report Fox and their ilk as liars, pure propaganda intentionally misleading the public.
Finally, stop reporting what Trump and Republicans say when they tell lies, distort truth, create diversions, engage in ad hominem attacks. Don't repeat it; just report that Trump told more lies today, that Republican so and so told more lies today.
3
Just imagine a Fox News reporter doing the exact same thing Acosta did to a female Democrat intern (regardless of whether or not you believe it was a physical shove or just getting too handsy) and the immediate outcry it would cause from liberal outlets. Imagine the outcry if a conservative outlet's reporter continuously interrupted and lectured a liberal president after being repeatedly asked to hand the mike over.
And now you know why outlets like the Times have about as much credibility outside the hallowed ivory coastal towers as the Onion.
Maybe Acosta had a right to complain about the reasoning for the revocation, but (ONCE AGAIN) all the propaganda outlets immediately jumped in to the fray with lie after lie after lie stemming from pure hatred for Trump.
The sad part about all of this is that news organizations are supposed to hold the moral high ground in order to keep public institutions accountable. But just imagine the Post or Times trying to break something like a Watergate scandal right now. Sixty percent of America would shrug its collective shoulders and think, "Well, that's just the Times being the Times..."
And the worst part of it all? As soon as the next liberal President takes office, these same garbage waste-of-internet-space "journalists" are going to go right back to kow-towing to the executive branch and pretending the ground the President walks on is holy just like they did under Obama.
They're not enemies...they're just completely irrelevant.
12
Who does Trump think he is? Putin? I guess it's lucky his model isn't Stalin. Someone has to remind him that he is the president of a democracy, not king, not dictator, not emperor. The free press is one of the foundations of that democracy and guaranteed in the Constitution. Jim Acosta was and is doing his job. The way Trump confronted him the other day was, to use one of his favourite words, a disgrace. He should be reinstated immediately. The remaining members of the press should ask about this every day. Boycotting press conferences and gaggles would be the answer to Trump's dreams, so that suggestion is not a good one. They should back up their colleague or they might be next. Trump has verbally abused several of them and up until this incident he saved the worst of that for women. That the allegation about Acosta is related to assaulting a woman is laughable, given who it came from.
Reporters are not disappeared in the US, nor are they sent to a gulag. Trump imagines he can run the country and his administration by fiat and decree because of the enablers and sycophants in the GOP. Everyone should be outraged by this attack on the free press. Every POTUS learned to deal with uncomfortable questions. Trump needs to grow up and stop sulking. He signed up for this.
1
Some words to remember, take seriously and never forget.
Supreme Court Associate Justice Hugo Black
"In the First Amendment the Founding Fathers gave the free press the protection it must have to fulfill its essential role in our democracy. The press was to serve the governed, not the governors. The Government's power to censor the press was abolished so that the press would remain forever free to censure the Government. The press was protected so that it could bare the secrets of government and inform the people. Only a free and unrestrained press can effectively expose deception in government."
Concurring in New York Times Co. v. United States, 403 U.S. 713 (1971).
1
"... Mr. Trump’s ignorance of the role of a free press?" I think not. One of the few things our serial-liar of a President is not ignorant of is the role of the free press. In fact, he's got a life-time love affair with manipulating the free press for his own nefarious purposes. He obviously enjoys conning people, destroying people, breaking people. He revels in his law-breaking. The Presidency is his ultimate con game in this respect. He will literally stop at nothing to win it, even if it means sinking us into a totalitarian dystopia of propoganda and lies. His attack on the Constitutional right to free press is already winning, but it's not lost! Sue him repeatedly and often and never settle!
3
My guess is that this was all planned by Trump. After his "vision" for America failed so miserably at the polls Tuesday, he figured he'd call on Acosta, then berate him publicly to appear tough to his "base."
3
It was petty to suspend Mr. Acosta. However CNN and his bosses at the network should have reassigned him months ago. He seems to be a decent guy and a good reporter but he clearly has become part of the story not just reporting on it. I think it is making CNN's job for more difficult in covering the administration and elsewhere. I hope they move him to another beat and move on.
6
The President didn't even listen to Acosta's questions. He interrupted from the start, gratuitously insulted him and tried to cut him off. That is terrible behavior. Trump didn't like the questions and didn't want to respectfully answer them. He is trying to silence the press when they are critical of him and ask challenging questions. That is what a dictator does.
2
The editorial gets it just right: Mr. Trump's "enemy" is not Jim Acosta. It's the First Amendment of the Constitution of the United States.
2
The problem is that Mr. Acosta believes his job is to goad the President. Mr. Acosta isn't interested in reporting the news or being a journalist.
Instead, what he wants to use his WH press credentials for is to boost the base viewership of CNN by acting like a fool.
If he would simply ask his question, and then possibly a followup he would still have his credentials.
Mr. Acosta is an embarrassment to the profession of journalism.
10
Boycott talk serves Trump's purposes of derision and division. Instead we implore the press, and independent journalists, to dig deeper and deeper to expose the dishonesty and disloyalty of this menace presidency. Get the facts and we will crucify this crook on the cross of truth.
2
Acosta, asked the wrong question, I want to know when my middle class tax cut is coming?
1
Get ATT and Warner Media out of the White House. Better to have the nearest high school send a reporter. It is hard to detect a difference between CNN and its stablemate The Cartoon Network.
3
Jim Acosta's job seems to be badgering the president and trying to bog him down in semantic mud-wrestling all the while disrespecting the office the president holds. He also apparently thinks he's uber-privileged among his fellow "reporters" in the White House press corps when he contentiously hogs an inordinate amount of time with the president.
As for the concept of an "invasion," there are over 20 million people living in this country who came here illegally. In other words, the end result is the same as a military invasion, the goal of which is to occupy a foreign land with your people. The only difference is that most of those here illegally didn't come with guns and artillery. And yet they are occupiers of American soil in the United States. So of course, they are invaders. Their numbers have overwhelmed our system of immigration, violated our sovereignty, and put enormous pressure on our infrastructure and resources. Now there are so many of them that the Democrat Party has sided with them in their quest to have open borders.
And they call Trump a traitor.
11
Trump, like most bullies, is scared. He recognizes he is too weak to face a tough question and incapable of giving a reasoned response. Thus he shouts generalities, rambles or talks over just about every reporter who asks him a question. He doesn't let them finish and often changes the subject. Reminds me of how abusers act in a relationship.
Is Acosta a "showboater"? Well, perhaps it takes a showboater to confront a showboater.
It's unlikely Trump can justify his own policies beyond sloganeering soundbites and he clearly isn't someone used to being questioned. So Trump orders Acosta to sit down. But Acosta isn't Trump's employee or family member or minion. So I say good for Acosta.
Anyway, it's Trump who was abusive to his employee, demanding that she grab a microphone out of someone's hand. If Acosta was being belligerent and refusing to give up the microphone it was not her job to force him. He should have called security (male or female, by the way). But Trump gave her no choice other than refusing a direct order on live television. Trump is a terrible boss with 0 respect or compassion for his underlings. But I guess we already knew that.
CNNs news IS slanted in their reporting!
As much as you want to present the President alone in his bellicosity,....Teddy Roosevelt, Andrew Jackson would've probably been right there also with limiting access if they'd experienced aggressively biased reporters acting obnoxious in the room.
We are a ruder more 'in your face' culture than ever before in all aspects of life. And journalists can be obnoxious. It was not appropriate for Jim Acosta to stage his own gag-worthy Spartacus tv moment. Pres. Trump did the right thing.
10
the next press conference the president wants to hold the press should refuse to cover at all until the president rescinds his ban on Mr Acosta. simple as that but fox probably would not go along
As an immature, self-centered, narcissistic pathological liar Trump does not understand, and will never do, that he is accountable to the people of this country.
Trump is obsessed for attention and here we go, talking about him. Even firing Sessions right after the Republican losses was a childish attempt to turn the narrative back to him.
He thrives in confrontation, mockery, insults, and lies. The press should minimize the opportunities for him to thrive in this kind of behaviors and also put some distance to avoid being the target of potential physical violence.
And the WH press corps must boycott his irrational, random and nonsensical monologues called "press conferences"!
"The only way a reporter should look at a politician is down." -- H.L. Mencken
This is the mantra of any decent reporter. The problem with Trump is he thinks the press is only there to be his PR mouthpiece, which is why he loves Fox. The sight of Hannity and Pirro slobbering over him at a political rally while standing behind a lectern with the seal of the President was disgusting on every level possible.
4
Do not forget his mocking of a disabled reporter. I would remind the public of that horror EVERY TIME he complains about the press. He disgusts me.
4
Why does Trump keep calling on Acosta if he won't answer him? Must just be the provocation.
1
I watched the un-doctored video several times...the intern was very aggressive and grabby, she was clearly invading his space, he was polite but she continued to grab and leaned close into his body, Acosta did not try to "karate chop" her at all, he was trying to protect himself from her, she was VERY aggressive.....if the intern had been a man who behaved like that people would also say he was way out of line and too aggressive. Sarah Sanders is a waste of precious taxpayer $...she is an embarrassment to all American women.
4
It's mindblogging that half the nation suports Trump and they cannot wake up and smell the coffee about his character - a liar, slumdog landlord, a fake self-made millionaire and a very angry leader elected to the White House.
Two more years and he'll be gone in 2020.
Hold on and we'll soon step out of the Trump cesspool he brought to our nation's capitol.
1
He can do his job. Just not from the WH press room.
4
All journalists should remember a well know poem from which I've paraphrased the first line. "First they came for Jim Acosta and we did nothing." If Acosta's colleagues do not ban together eventually they'll experience the last line. "Then they came for me............" I'm not trying to be over dramatic here but when people like Jim Acosta get banned from the WH reporters pool it's easy to see he may be the first domino to fall in the elimination of the free press. For Gods sake you guys stand up to this guy.
4
is he just ignorant, or is he "ignorant as a fox?"
No pun is intended, but why give Trump an out?
He knows exactly what he is doing when he bashes the free press, and to imagine him as a simple ignoramus is a an indulgence we can ill afford.
1
Trump is a coward. He can’t take the heat & should get out. Acosta and any journalist for that matter has the right to ask tough questions - that’s their job. Just as Trump’s job should be to run the country in accordance with our Constitution. Trump’s failure at HIS job is the source of his anger & frustration at the Press.
3
Please name the reporters that questioned Obama as aggressively as Acosta does to Trump
7
The WH is really stupid on this one bc it will draw so much attn towards CNN while also illustrating how stupid and controlling Trump is, particularly given the fact that he has never had an approval rating of 50% or higher.
1
Having watch other contentious news conference in the past with other presidents being asked hard questions they didn't like in a manner they didn't like - this press conference and the Acosta scene with the intern seemed like a set up to me. Presidents or I should say no other President has tarnish the office with such violation of the first amendment. This was like something planned or prepped in advance with the intern she grabbed that mic from Acosta who was totally fixed on his discussion with the Trump and not on her. The video was doctored obviously in replays by the WH and that is the worse bit. The lying on top of lies. Trump has been targeting Acosta for over a year now and this was like a master play. Trump was batting balls all day. Sessions. Acosta. Mueller.
Trum[ doesn't own the White House and he cannot stop a legally appointed journalist from attending a public event. Trump's appearance before the press is not a private but a public event.
He has the discretion not to call on Acosta, but not the right to exclude him. CNN should take Trump to court to decide on this matter.
4
@Frank Casa WH press briefings are not public, nor is the WH public property. The president and his staff have sole discretion on issuing press passes.
4
Trump is beleaguered by 3 threats to his quest for power that, in Stephen Miller’s fated phrase, will not be questioned. His challenge is simply to neuter them.
First is the Department of Justice. He is moving swiftly to remake it into an engine of Trumpism, one that will never put a check on his momentum. Linked to this is Mueller, a clear and present danger to the mob family that is the Trump dynasty.
Second is the newly constituted House of Representatives now in the hands of a Democratic majority.
Third is the free and independent press, which informs and opines of its own accord, untethered to the Trump version of reality.
Trump’s post election press conference saw him draw clear battle lines. To the Department of Justice: goodbye independence. To the House: investigation is an act of war. To the press: I will not be questioned.
I hope the forces of freedom and democracy fight to win.
9
@Victor
I think the forces of freedom and democracy are belatedly seeing that they need to fight to win. And it's not just Trump who must be fought, but the entire Republican party. Without Republican support, Trump wouldn't be president.
2
Because Trump loves to present himself as the people's pugilist and surrogate victim, confronting him, which is appropriate for the press to do, does not work. It changes the subject, which he is a master of. I would give Trump as little direct attention as possible - starve the beast - and start confronting the Republicans senators and house members more directly who condone his policies and prop him up.
5
He played his role very well, especially to the media. As a president who has a business background, there are many things (from the business side) that he has done. America already knows what kind of person is needed. I am very flattering to the unity in your country.
For me what happened between him and the media is a communication strategy process. I learned about that.
1
@Karie Rio Dwisandy Simon It is not, as you put it, "a communication strategy process." it is a direct assault on the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. Apparently, your understanding of the fundamental principles of American democracy is incomplete, much like that of the president's.
2
In the clip I saw, JIM Acosta confronted Trump on his ridiculous claim that a so called caravan of Central American “invaders” was about to invade America. If journalists can’t point out outrageous lies on the part of the president, who can? I find this intolerable and in direct opposition to any semblance of democracy. What is going on?!
46
@LoveNOtWar:
When you are a star, they let you do it, you can do anything.
1
To Times Readers:
So Mr. Acosta's credentials were revoked for "laying his hands on a young woman". Wow.
Based on that precedent, perhaps the new House majority, in view of the current president's well documented bad behavior with women, can revoke his "hall pass" and make him stay in his room with only one channel on his tv. Sarah H Sanders can slide meals under the door from places in DC that will still serve her.
Tough times call for tough measures.
Submitted by ROGER LATZGO, Germansville PA www.rogerlatzgo.com
18
The press have lost their way. Exhibit A.
10
@Daphne
A paraphrase of what Nixon and his minions said about the press. How’d that work out?
4
Racial discrimination by U.S. CEO is very disturbing. Taking away his credentials, Acosta, is deprived of his rights.
7
@TA Where in the Constitution does is the right to attend WH press briefings?
4
Acosta doesn't ask questions, he pontificates. Every right to aggressively question the president, yes. If there was a conservative Jim Acosta during the Obama administration you would be claiming that the person was rude and unprofessional. Jim Acosta is not a journalist. He is a showboat that continuously tries to upstage the President. It is all about him. Comments about illegitimate administration are only made by people who can't get over 2016. Sad.
22
@Jack
Do you feel the same about Dan Rather’s confrontation of Richard Nixon? Which, of course, led to the unraveling of the Watergate conspiracy. Acosta is serving the country, as did Rather, by asking hard questions.
30
@Jack
So are you saying that the current president has a monopoly on aggressive speech? Apparently he, and his minions, feel that way.
2
"The clip Sarah Huckabee-Sanders shared looks identical to one tweeted earlier on Wednesday by Paul Joseph Watson, an editor at Infowars and notorious peddler of false information."
https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2018/11/white-house-jim-acosta-video-manipulated-doctored-analysis.html
Slate web link's third video is a quarter speed side-by-side comparison. "Somehow" there's blurring of hand motion on the Sanders' video (right side).
The Sanders' tweeted video included magnified hand motion for replay FIVE times; and she uses the manipulation as evidence of "inappropriate behavior".
So far, Sanders hasn't even confirmed that she used an Infowars video that she presents as "clearly documented". The public deserves frame-by-frame analysis of quickened frames / blurring above hand. Every lie must be fully exposed.
23
@Able Nommer
It saves a lot of time when you realize that they're incapable of telling the truth. Just assume every word out of their mouths is a bald faced lie until they prove otherwise.
This is a volatile, dangerous and combative administration.
It will also go down in infamy as the 'walk it back' administration.
I take issue with the abuse shown to PBS News Hour's Yamiche Alcindor, an accomplished journalist simply doing her job.
I see no use for these POSTUS press conferences while POSTUS is #45. I don't watch them and typically mute any sound bite aired about them.
I'm satisfied with reading press release statements from this administration without putting the journalists in the line of fire.
6
I would love to see the press band together and stay away from White House press briefings. What would Sarah do then?
17
Trump went way out of bounds. But Acosta? I also think he was out of bounds.
9
@MJB
I disagree entirely. Acosta was doing his job, and doing it well, in the face of a lying hostile politician.
4
Bombs were sent to CNN by a Trump supporter. Mr. Khasoggi, a Washington Post journalist, was murdered in a terrible way. Yet Trump continues his inflammatory rhetoric against reporters.
Mr. Acosta was doing his job professionally, and it is ridiculous for Trump with his hundreds of insults and name calling to accuse Acosta of being rude.
The freedom of the press is guaranteed in the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. It is not the "enemy of the people" as Stalin would say.
That intern should never have been tasked with grabbing a microphone from a reporter. It is a disgrace to be working for Trump's White House anyway, but this was too ugly to involve a young intern.
Trump once expelled Jorge Ramos from a press conference He ordered him, "Sit down. You weren't called. Sit down." To Acosta, he ordered, "Put down the mic." This is not the way a president behaves, and for that matter, Sarah Sanders has been extremely insulting to reporters, bullying them in a similar way to Trump. The doctored video is a reminder of the lies.
The intent is to silence reporters and to intimidate them while riling up his supporters.
Sue the White House, or invoke the Constitutional amendment formally. This is the United States not a despotic banana republic or Russia.
27
Yes, Jim Acosta and all journalists should be allowed to do their jobs. But did Acosta do his job well? I don't think so, and his ham-fisted "questioning" gave the president more fodder to stir up his base against the media. ("See? I told you!")
This doesn't excuse the president's reaction. After Acosta sat down (the first time), the president went out of his way, as he does, to insult Acosta and launch a broadside at the media.
And Acosta's bad day at the office in no way justifies the bald-faced lies from the White House, starting with Sarah Sanders' use of the bogus video to falsely accuse Acosta and lift his press pass.
This is not just an example of people behaving badly. We're talking about presidential powers and abuse thereof, real risks to First Amendment freedoms, and perhaps, in the long run, the future of our republic. The stakes are pretty high. We need reporters to ask tough, fair, and incisive questions that elicit information rather than drive pro-Trump clicks. And we need national leaders who actually uphold the First Amendment (and the rest of the Constitution) instead of ignoring or undermining it.
BTW, Al Tompkins and Kelly McBride of the Poynter Institute comment on this incident very well today: https://www.poynter.org/news/cnns-jim-acostas-actions-trump-dont-represent-best-journalism?fbclid=IwAR2Ei3tg0LReTjsJ7JafMTfTEVcEUTNQp7LoZ0C-4Co2dBN3nNeYil5P3BE
2
I watched the video very closely with a totally open mind.
PRESIDENT TRUMP WAS 100% CORRECT, AGAIN.
President Trump has consistently proven himself accurate, and W A Y ahead of the game on almost every issue. There's times when he says things that may seem slightly 'out of left-field' -- BUT -- once you know the context, background and facts and once future-events unfold, it turns out PRESIDENT TRUMP IS 100% CORRECT.
Everything he's stated, has been steadfast and true, AND he's done it to both save America and Make America Great Again.
Unfortunately, there's been mass resistance to this even before he was elected, and it's been in the form of fake-news. Not all news is fake, but, many stories have been fabricated & exaggerated, be used as leverage by those with a different agenda.
Jim Acosta made a fool of himself.
To the average person it seemed like a failed attempt at 'gotcha' 'ambush' journalism.
President Trump was the ONLY public-person brave and strong enough to stand up for AMERICA and AMERICA'S CITIZENS. He's done so at immense personal-sacrifice to himself.
Reminder: President Trump didn't need or even want the job of President -- HE DID IT TO SAVE AMERICA.
He's stated at all times: we must be compassionate and we must have LEGAL immigration.
But 2000 or 7000 migrants marching towards our border, IS in fact, AN INVASION.
To the average person, it seemed Acosta picked a fight.
We DO need a free-press. But it can't be propagandized.
12
@Fortitudine Vincimus.
Donald Trump ran for President to market his brand. He never expected to win, as evidenced by the shocked looks on his and his family's faces on election night. He might be interested in saving America, but only for rich guys like himself.
16
@Fortitudine Vincimus.
Well, that's that approach to the press by our current president works for his buddies, Putin and Erdogan, so why not?
13
@Fortitudine Vincimus.
-Yeah, I don't think the phrase "totally open mind" means what you think it does.
1
Watching the video shows Jim Acosta whose question was answered cross the civility line in his continuation of what was more of a challenge of allegations than inquiry upon a very patient and reasonable responding Trump. If Acosta does not get his White House pass back it is by his own doing and will set the example for what will not be tolerated by this president. The media on probation itself, for past improprieties concerning its public trust, will get little sympathy from the people until its credibility is restored.
10
@Joe Gilkey
Always interesting how different people watching the exact same thing actually see different things. I saw an out of control lying politician being properly questioned by a representative of the free press, instead of his tame fake "news" outlets, and not being able to handle it.
2
There is a war on the media started by the President and exacerbated by his press secretary. Threats of violence, insults, misinformation, disinformation and doctored videos are all part of it.
It arrived at Tucker Carlson's home last night much to the surprise of those conducting the attacks.
12
The press corps should turn their backs on Trump to make it clear that they condemn this assault to the entire premise of the role of a free press in our democracy.
12
...and turn their backs on Sanders' press conferences
1
It's clearly true - Trump wants to be treated as a "Debutante" and NOT as a "Politician". He seeks only good and wonderful things to be said and felt about him. The 'worm remains under the rock'.
5
Time for action - not talk. Either the WH press takes a stand on this issue or they forfeit their claim to support a free press. Trump and Sander's lies, behavior, and non answers in these press conferences makes them worthless anyway. It just gives Trump another media platform for propaganda.
12
The White House press conferences, in this Administration, only serve to whip up Trump's base. Whether it's Sanders or Trump himself, the purpose seems to be to demean, disrespect, and mock the press, while telling the most blatant lies.The press should no longer cover these press conferences; instead, they should use their reporting resources to investigate this administration. If the White House press corp continues to report on these so-called press conferences, they are allowing him to use them for his own purposes. Just stop showing up.
10
The press at the WH should walk out on Sanders and/or Trump. This is unbearable the way they are treating professional journalists doing their job. It is a duty and responsibility of elected officials to inform the public of the work the Administration is doing. Its not a favour they decide to do once in a while.
Jim Acosta was humiliated by the WH. That is not ok.
11
Over half a century ago, in Paris, I remember reading how the press had decided to "kill" someone. I do not remember who it was, nor the reason for the killing, and no one was to be killed for real. "Killing" as it was explained, simply meant that from now on the target's name would never be mentioned in the press; as if he did not exist anymore.
Perhaps Mr. Acosta's colleagues could do the same to Donald Trump. If they were to ignore him whenever he becomes obnoxious, if they refused to give him the attention he craves, if all he had left to get attention were his rallies (and how much longer before his supporters find better things to do ?), he might finally start behaving the way a President should. Worth a try?
11
@Francoise Aline
Not a bad idea so much as a complete fantasy in the current world. Trump has plenty of outlets for his lies and viciousness that get all sweaty about publicizing him every chance they get. They, and he, would look at your kind of "killing" as a victory. "They know they can't compete with us, so they're just sticking their heads in the sand and surrendering!!"
1
The problem I see is that Acosta seemed to be lecturing instead of questioning. He would've been on firmer ground if he asked Trump to justify the cost of sending troops in response to a group of migrants on foot that was hundreds of miles from the border. He should apologize for that particular line of inquiry and the Administration should reinstate his pass.
16
@Freonpsandoz Insightful, reasonable analysis and resolution. Of course, you'd need reasonable people to agree and since Mr. Acosta doesn't appear to have noticed his lack of the Socratic method, methinks there's no hope here. But excellent remedy all the same!
6
Why won't the press refuse to participate in any press briefings/interviews, whether held by Sanders or Trump (or any other Trump minion) if they are simultaneously barring reporters from real news organizations from participating? You'd see a pretty quick turn around, I bet, given that news exposure is the oxygen that Trump breathes.
19
@rms Your question "Why won't the press refuse to participate in any press briefings/interviews, whether held by Sanders or Trump (or any other Trump minion) if they are simultaneously barring reporters from real news organizations from participating? " is quite reasonable, but if the press stopped covering briefings, t he President gets what he really wants, the news media out of the White House.
Not good,
4
In the last two years we've been exposed to trumps brand of running the government and his love of being center stage 24/7. If the media ever stopped covering the inexperienced boob and his minions, cadet bone spurs would shrivel at not being the center of attention. Narcissism begs FOR attention.
I truly hope you guys, especially from the large news networks, stick together on this matter. If necessary boycut the administration.
Watching all this from Europe is terrifying. Many of us in Europe have always been looking towards the US. The land with endless opportunities, the land of dreams.
These days - since Trump was elected, America has been a laughing joke. Trump is compared to Putin and Kim Jong Il. America has become a country we no longer wish was our own country, but a place we now fear will effect our own over time.
Place fight this man and help free America from all the lies and cruelty, before his "Presidental style" become the new normal.
272
Acosta is in the wrong here and deserved to lose his press pass. Trump DID answer his question. He was quite specific (which is rare for Trump). Acosta would not accept his answer, and instead, argued with him, telling Trump that "it's not an invasion", to which Trump very specifically said, "I consider it to be an invasion. You and I have a difference of opinion."
Acost asks question 2: "Do you think that you demonized immigrants" to which Trump answers, "No. Not at all"
And after asking 2 questions, he won't give up the mic.
No, sorry. Trump is a boorish clod and an idiot. But that is not an excuse for Acosta's behavior. Revoking his press pass was the right thing to do.
16
@RedorBlueGuy
"I consider it to be an invasion", in other words: "words mean what I say they mean". That is not a difference of opinion, it is just another way of telling a lie.
8
@RedorBlueGuy
We already know Trump considered it to be an invasion. That was implicit in the question. Trump was being asked to justify that label, not repeat it. Thus Trump did not answer the question.
5
The pass was not revoked for the reasons you cited. It was for supposed inappropriate contact with a female intern when she attempted to take the microphone from Mr Acosta. The “evidence” presented by the White House was a doctored video. Seriously, it was edited. Actual witnesses standing there have already disputed the WH narrative.
Mr Acosta should not have been banned. Not for the bogus reason posited by the White House. And certainly not for challenging the president’s own on-the-record statements. If Mr Trump can’t stand the heat, he ought to get out of the kitchen.
3
I love Jim Acosta!
25
Other than to provide an opportunity for the administration to regale us with more lies, nothing of value occurs at the press briefings. My suggestion is for the legitimate press to boycott the briefings entirely. Maybe they will begin to appreciate the role of the press in our democracy.
20
@Robert Braun Yes! Press to boycott the White House. A grateful nation turns the TV channel to the civil programs.
2
Trump is a binary reactor: One is for or against him. Criticism is opposition. Trump, like every demagogue or rabble-rouser before him, does not, and has not ever, tolerated opposition.
15
A president who call the press "enemy of the people", a Secretary of State (Georgia) who supervises his own election, a secretary of press who expelled a journalist who is just doing his job, journalists of FOX News who are mouth pieces of the government and share the stage with the President,... Welcome to the club of banana republics.
45
I admire Mr. Acosta for having the courage to challenge this president. That is what freedom of the press is all about. We're way passed "nicey nice"
CNN and others should stand up for him.
Barring him from press conferences is one more erosion of our democracy!
25
@JB Yes, indeed. Acosta's mother must be proud to see her Jim distinguish himself in front of the nation. See: toys for tots.
2
CNN, please stop covering Trump rallies. Don't subject your reporters to the vitriol or help feed Trump's ego. If any real news comes from them, you can grab a clip from the master feed. These are campaign rallies, not Presidential addresses. He doesn't deserve the free media time.
18
Trump, for all his braggadocio and unsavory personality traits, is still the President. Acosta was totally out of line with both his pontificating and his disrespect, not only to the President, but to the other journalists in the room. The leftist press will cry foul, after all, how dare the president of the US call out some grandstanding "reporter" that refuses to cede the spotlight.
One of the thin silver linings of the Trump style is that it lays bare the underlying agendas of the left. Never has the hard leftist bias of the press been so obvious to so many Americans. Never has there been such naked hatred of a President, his policies and his supporters put on display as there has been under this administration. Given that Trump lost the House shows that there is, at least in part, some appetite within the American population for this abject bias and hate from the left.
Acosta will be a hero to the left for standing up to the President. Trump will be a hero to the right for calling out the hate and bias from the "fake news".
And so the divisions in this country continue unhealed ...
12
He is dividing us more and more everyday. The truth of the matter is left and right are Americans. It's called the USA for a reason it would be nice if we all remembered that.
3
It was clear he was lying in his answer. Acosta did his job by challenging false assertions made by the President. I believe he lies so often no one challenges him any longer. At least Acosta was trying.....
13
@Hillary
"naked hatred" or "naked contempt"? It is hard to respect someone like Donald Trump, and he is not really worth hating.
4
Journalists:
I beg you to appoint one journalist, just one, each day to cover so-called press events held by the Trump Administration. Any information from those events can be shared with all other journalists.
Just one journalist each day.
If the person at the podium lies and/or abuses the one appointed journalist, put down the microphone and walk out of the room. If the phrase "enemy of the people" is used by the person at the podium, walk out of the room immediately.
Just one.
34
Acosta, while talking politely, was nonetheless rude, insolent and willfully disrespectful to his colleagues. He tried to make himself the show instead of respecting the setting and the US President. The media was overwhelmingly deferential to President Obama even though he avoided them most of the time. I'm waiting to see your article expressing the same level of worry though about Tucker Carlson's house being mobbed by Antifa, including having his front door broken and threats made of pipe bombs.
13
@Alan Pittsburgh good sense.
2
This was classic bullying behavior on Trump's part. He forced an incident which wasn't really an incident to accomplish what he really wanted to achieve; scare the press into backing down by taking away a qualified reporter's press credentials. He doesn't like the heat so he'll stomp on the offending person rather than working on a real answer. (For those who are curious, the real answer is that the caravan was a pretext to avoid the other issues and to rile up his base. He loves riled up base.)
Trump could commit murder anywhere in America and his base would see it as justified even if the person he shot was innocent, unarmed, and did nothing but stand there in front of him. What alarms this reader is the number of people who find Trump's stunts acceptable because he's the president. I thought we'd gotten over that with Nixon and Watergate.
22
If everyone turns off their tv for these shams, maybe the loss of ratings will have an effect on coverage.
9
I watched the Trump/Acosta interaction in its entirety. Acosta was completely out of order, disprutive and disrespectful to the other journalists in the room. Acosta did not ask a question to inform the public; he was pontificating his own views on the caravan and arguing with Trump. And he absolutely pushed the WH intern's arm, right above her elbow joint. He didn't karate chop or hit it, but he definitely pushed on it. Now, granted, she was trying to take the microphone back from Acosta who was refusing to give it back. There were many journalists there who was having a go at Trump, and Acosta was the only one who got banned. CNN really needs to get another reporter who is effective at calling out Trump without calling attention to him/herself. And give Acosta his own show.
14
One silver lining: this illegitimate administration just flat out admitted how absolutely terrified they are of legitimate questions and that they’ll do anything to avoid having to answer them. But we already knew that.
32
Every so-called journalist in that room (except of course those from Fox, who aren't even the so-called variety) should have stood up and defended Acosta, and shouted at that coward that they will not be intimidated.
It takes courage, it takes backbone, it takes guts, and it takes solidarity, but someone, some group, some major institution, somewhere in this country, has to stand up to this psychopath and bully. Over and over again.
If the President himself threatening a journalist on TV, for just doing his job, in a room packed with so-called journalists, is not enough for more than a strongly-worded NYT's editorial board opinion piece, we are truly lost.
Brave and courageous journalists took on Nixon. And won. They took on McCarthy, and won. That's what it will take. Everyone in the room, not just Acosta, standing up to this tin-plated psycho.
Or here's an idea. Everyone of them turn their backs on Trump at his next lie-fest pretending to be a press conference. Or better yet, stand there, point at him, and just laugh. Nothing violent, just use some good civil humiliation. Trump can handle violence and aggression, He can not stand humiliation. So humiliate him, in public. Do it over and over again.
Why do I have to even tell you to do this?
Jim Acosta is a national hero.
33
@Vanowen
No, not laugh and point -- not the first time. Better to lightly shake one's head whilst murmuring 'Shame' with increasing volume. Then the next time : Lies ! Third time, laugh. Fourth time, laugh and point. After that, expressionless silence.
And if your Senator is an enabler, let him/her know that s/he is complicit in dismantling our Republic. It hasn't yet worked on McConnell, but he hasn't got a soul ; it might work on some of the others. :)
Cheers !
7
@Vanowen: You got a very good point. Journalists has to stand together and practice solidarity. In Canada the Conservative Prime Minister Stephen Harper, once refused to answer a question asked by a journalist whom he did not like. The next journalist in line refused to ask a question and told the Prime Minister to answer to the question he was just asked. The Prime Minister got the message and never try the trick again. And by the way why journalist ask question to Donald Trump? He almost always lies every time.
9
Trump must be on the front page every day to support his ego. The press should stop giveing him daily coverage and it will drive him crazy.
15
Is this the President of the United States or the clone of Hungary's own Victor Orban, anti-press, anti-Soros, anti-Western, anti-democracy? Sound familiar? Let's make America shameful again
7
I watched a clip of the Trump news conference. Acosta asked two questions about the President's characterization of the migrant caravan as an invasion and its incendiary quality. Trump defended his characterization, cut Acosta off when he pointed out the reality of the caravan, and then, after Acosta gave up the microphone, called him rude, deserving to be fired, fake news and an enemy of the people.
Even if one were to concede Acosta's behavior was rude (which I do not), what is worse rudeness or uttering bald face lies for political ends?
27
Stop covering Trump. He will fold.
12
Ms. Sanders is a loathsome servant of Trump. Accusing Jim Acosta of putting his hands on that aid, whose behavior was downright combative, is disgusting but not surprising. She has no shame and will stop at nothing to defend Trump, who runs the White House like a mafia boss.
32
Just as conservatives misunderstand the 1st Amendment (yes you CAN be fired if you tweet political statements, or racist thoughts, as that violates company policy), the NYT misunderstands it as well.
Jim Acosta does not have a "right" to be at the White House briefings. These are at the discretion of the WH and they don't need to let in the corespondent from the local Billings, MT newspaper either.
This is access journalism at its finest/worst. Understanding all of that, its something of a miracle Acosta has been allowed there at all given his utter partisanship and combativeness.
10
@Arturo Ummm, Acosta wasn't at a meeting where a CEO was commenting on the company's earnings. He doesn't have a right to attend that meeting. The press does have a right - you know, under the First Amendment, to report on what the president says. So you are the one with a misunderstanding.
9
@rms
Try again. The First Amendment means that the government cannot censor the press. It does not mean that any particular reporter or news outlet has an absolute right to attend a White House press conference.
4
Harassing the President is not doing his job
13
@NYC Dweller
Yes, it is.
Jim Acosta should absolutely be returned his press privileges. He did nothing to justify this type of serious and precedent setting action by the WH. Let him back in now.
That said, I cannot stand Jim Acosta. It's similar to the reaction I had watching Peter Strozyk testify - the arrogance and the self righteous mugging explodes through the screen and attacks me by the throat, leaving me gagging and gasping for air. Every single time.
That is why I don't watch CNN. But yeah, he should get his badge back.
6
Ms Sanders is an accomplished liar, and Lindsay Graham is still celebrating his mistreatment of women in the Kavanaugh hearings. Don't expect anything good from them.
22
I am saddened to read the editorial board of THE most respected news publications in the world tell its readers that Jim Acosta is doing his job and we need to support him.
Jim Acosta is an activist and not a journalist. Jim Acosta is the business of making Jim Acosta the news story.
Is this the direction the Times wishes to now pursue? One of activism vs. unbiased news reporting?
13
Rah: This isn't a news story. It is an opinion piece and perfectly legitimate.
6
@Raj With all due respect Raj, it was Trump that made Jim Acosta the news story.
12
If Jim Acosta really were a journalist he would have said "In a free country you do not get to tell a journalist to sit down and you don't tell a journalist to shut up. And you don't threaten journalists or incite violence against them. That's what happens in countries where thugs rule." And then he would have walked out followed by the real press. Trump and his followers are always talking about free speech but they have no idea what the first amendment means. And it's this. And no one should be at these joke press conferences. No member of the legitimate press should be there listening to that deranged sow make up lies. Let them report on the White House and this president without pretending this is a legitimate press person or a legitimate president
13
the press should quit going to the white house, maybe send one person (from a pool) to write down the info sanders provides to share with all the others
5
Why did that young White House intern try to take away Acosta’s microphone ?
That certainly wasn’t “her job”, as some claimed.
No one has the right to take away a reporter’s microphone.
The next reporter, the one standing next to Acosta, should have handed the microphone to Acosta.
White House reporters had agreed to continue questioning even if the president taunts and calls out ugly names to the “enemies of the people.”
6
Trump gets away with behaving like a dictator because he has the support of Trumpists in Congress and the Courts.
Now I am not saying that these Trump-ists are Nazis but I believe that Nazis would have believed that they are. Yet do not be fooled there is a major difference between Trump-ists and their Leader who was elected by a hostile foreign power in a conspiracy to attack our democracy, and the Nazis and their Furher, is that the latter lied in German and the former lies in gutter English.
After having studied Hitler's speeches one would think that Trump could up his game: but there is just so much you can do with a 5th grade vocabulary and no objective save self aggrandizement and lining his own pockets by selling off America, piece by piece to the highest bidders. A free press is antithetical to those objectives and must be destroyed. "Mein Kampf," page 11ff, see also "the big lie" as in the invasion of poor people a thousand miles away. Thus Trump says the free press is the enemy of the people. Extra, extra read all about it: Trump and the GOP are the enemy of the people. Press, do not be bullied. Do your job. Trump is a coward and running scared.
7
Fascism 101. Why so shocked ???
Seriously.
9
Trump was having a “bad hair day” yesterday after the Dems took back the House. He was in a lousy mood and Acosta took the heat for it.
Another common Trump tactic at these pressers is to 1) interrupt the reporter during the question and 2) not answer the question, prompting a follow up.
10
Thank you, New York Times Editorial Board. The way Donald Trump spoke to correspondent Jim Acosta was absolutely terrible. Trump can't take the heat from a smart and solid reporter asking the tough questions and the RIGHT questions. And never have I seen anyone woking for the White House try to snatch a microphone away from a reporter before. It's just all so disgraceful and insane with this man in the White House. Lord, help us.
20
I see a lot of folks are still stuck in the bizarre fancies that once upon a time, the Press was a happyhappy bunnyland of decorum, civility, and pure objectivity. And that in this bunnyland dwells the quaint notion that not only is FOX a benign home for Pure Truth, but a lonely Beacon Shining in the Night of Librul Propaganda.
Where one gets that strange notion of a poor, poor, picked-on Honest American Press of Just Plain Folks, given the “Washington Times,” the “Free Beacon,” Newsmax, One America News, Hannity, the Blaze, TBN, the entire Sinclair system, Rush, and a whole passel of movies, books, and shriekings from the shabby likes of d’Souza and Coulter, I couldn’t say.
You poor, poor things.
Anyway, I still have these dumb, simple questions. Skip all that stuff, assume Acosta’s a bad guy, ignore the black reporter and the Japanese reporter Trump treated just as badly, blow off the endless lying, skip all of it.
Why’s it okay by you to have the President of the United States of America showing everybody on the planet that he can’t spend half an hour preparing for questions that a concussed baby duck would know he’d be getting?
Why’s it okay to have our President stand up there and show every bad guy on the planet that he cannot stop bragging on himself?
Why’s it okay to have our President losing his temper like this, so the entire planet can see?
By the way, North Korea (about whom we were loudly told we no longer had to worry) cancelled today’s talks.
9
Possibly Acosta will find a new line of work. Everyone will be better off for it.
8
OMG! Have you guys actually watched the video of the Costa vs. Trump bout?
Acosta does not understand the notion that one may disagree with the President but one must have also respect for the office of the President.
No respect was shown whatsoever. The man was belligerent, aggressive and, in fact, put his hand on the arm of the young lady trying to remove the microphone from Acosta's grasp.
The guy should have his White House pass removed permanently. And if CNN doesn’t like it they don't have to have any of their reporters attend further press briefings!
13
@Ross Stuart It's a lot more respectful than grabbing women by their genitals don't you think? Even the office of the President should earn respect. I'm from England, a country once ruled by monarchs who now have no real power. The Prime Minister has some power but here he or she is regarded as just a person, worthy of ridicule when appropriate, not a king. It seems many in the USA seem to think the President should be treated like a king...or a delicate baby who mustn't have his feelings hurt. When he insults all and sundry on a regular basis he surely cannot expect much respect. He shows none. It's up to him to change.
12
The president has had no respect for most of the American people for 21 months now, and prior to that while campaigning, and for most of his public life ... relationships are reciprocal ...
6
@Ross Stuart Respect is earned. Trump hasn't earned respect from any of us - only contempt.
8
There was no assault by anyone. The intern was the one being physically aggressive trying to take away the mic, under duress by her commanding commander in chief.
Silencing CNN's Jim Acosta is just the start and will escalate if there is no REAL push-back on the unaccountable power - so far - of trump.
The next time the true enemy of the people president accuses the press or reporter as being the enemy of the people, they should all rise, NOT sit down when ordered, and walk out on this buffoon of a president, the fake-info press secretary and the Lindsey Graham gone crackers.
Journalists have our backs. Journalists have democracy's back. Journalists are unarmed - even when they are physically assaulted by Republican politicians or embed themselves with our military to cover their heroics on our behalf. Common people, we have to do more to have our journalist's back too. Now more that ever.
9
Trump hates tough questions because he is WEAK. That's why he keeps trying to bully the press and shucking and jiving to dodge the truth. It's Trump's way of running from a fight. Don't like tough questions? Jerk a reporter's press pass. Why does he keep Sarah HuckaBSanders playing fast and loose with the truth? Because Trump is WEAK. Oh, to get him under oath on a witness stand and hear a judge keep telling him repeatedly "Answer the question Mr. Trump." Wonder what name he'd call the judge? The Dishonorable Judge So-and-so? Gaveling Gertie? One last time: Trump is WEAK.
11
There is nothing stopping Acosta from doing his job at Lafayette Park; his CNN office; the local nursery school.
2
No reporter should have to be afraid that if he/she asks the President an uncomfortable question at a press conference he/she will be publicly Acosta-ed by the President, let alone barred from the White House.
12
"With all due respect," the saying goes. We have a president who is due NO respect, especially when it involves the press. When will
the entire White House reporters stand up as one, find their collective spine, and refuse to be treated in this derogatory manner? The president clearly thinks -- if indeed he thinks at all -- that he can act like a dictator. It seems that he might be right. He has got away with all of his behaviors thus far. When will we all revolt?
446
@seamus You're right about this President deserving no respect. Actually, he deserves to be in jail. But, if you think the entire press corp will unite to boycott him, think again. The likes of Fox News and its lesser minions like Breitbart want direct access to the President unfettered by a truthful press corp. They will never join it, not when they are the #1 rated "news" program in the nation and amoral losers like Sean Hannity are making $20+ million a year spreading lies and fear. They have made propoganda incredibly profitable, and they don't even need to Nationalize it. It's the Republican dream. We need more Acostas in the White House press briefings, daring the White House to react angrily. The free press needs to hang in there.
33
It's not that simple and obvious as the ed board would let you think.
Journalists have the duty of asking aggressive questions ( the grammar says the questions are aggressive, so for example, asking about improper behaviour, tried to get power people with red hands and so on),
but they had not the right to aggressively ask questions ( the grammar here says that journos can't hijacked microphone to held an improptu talk show (7 rapid questions) and physically distancing the hand of the girl who was going to take the microphone back from him once mr. Trump called for).
These are two dramatically different situations. Gore Vidal, for example, asked the most aggressive questions in one-two sentence and with a quiet mood, without the anger of certain activist-journalists.
The solution is at hand, literally. Refuse to let people holding the microphone ( yes journalists included), as it happens in many civic debates, as extreme measure to have order and equal time between journalists.
Plus Acosta was asking the same questions Trump has listened from every other journalist ( Mueller investigation: almost 30 questions, caravan of immigrants over 15 questions, and the list goes on as such) he wasn't really make a dent there in terms of acuity or brightness, he was making a stand, though.
3
What if the White House Press corps boycotted the next press conference? Or turned its back on Ms. Sanders and then walked out? Since it is all lies anyhow, the public is not missing anything but misinformation.
6
One of the real dangers of this era is that hatred of one side is seen as a perfectly rationale reason to vilify the other and excuse the behavior of one’s side. Pres Trump is not a good person. Clear. That does not mean that Acosta is anything but a self promoting clown. Media defense of him, simply because it is against Trump is why so much of the country has a poor perception of the media. The media has a critical role but that doesn’t mean they get a free pass. No rationale person could possibly believe that Acosta himself is performing a useful function. The only impact of suspending his credential is less face time for him once he finishes his pity party.
8
This reaction from an administration who's leader bragged about grabbing women's private parts. The faux shock is absurd. I think he needs to be reminded of that every day.
9
Bye jim..You hated him and it showed. Never show your anger or your hatred.
7
@G.Berken and what of the President showing his anger and hatred?
7
The most bigoted person in the White House ever. This conman is waging an open warfare against free press. He should be impeached on violating the Constitutionally protected freedom of press. This is an outright offense against the American people. Impeach Trump! This bigot was never any president for the majority of the American people. It is time to remove him out of the White House, not Jim Acosta.
8
Another lie and he is the President of United States.
Jim Acosta never touched the intern, we could see it in out naked eyes.
7
Unfortunately I sort of agree with Trump. Acosta was speaking out of turn and badgering the President. It was almost like Acosta was either out of control or deliberately trying to annoy Trump. Obviously the caravan is not invading the US and neither is the Russia probe fake news. But we can't have press conferences turning into shouting matches. And it dd look a lot like Acosta used his arm to prevent the intern from grabbing the mike, probably grazing her arm.
58
@John"Acosta was speaking out of turn and badgering the President." That is exactly what Truth looks like in the face of dissembling lies.
77
@John I watched the video. Acosta's body did touch the intern - because she walked over and inserted her body into his space as she tried to grab the mic. Acosta did not "put hands on her" or even touch, push or arm wrestle with her. He merely moved his arm with he mic away from her and shifted his body away from her. She is the one who instigated contact. And the only reason this is important is that Sarah Sanders outrageously said that part of the reason Acosta's press pass was being suspended is that he placed "his hands on a young woman." That is a bold-faced lie by the White House. Shameful and ridiculous.
103
Trump as president has the obligation to set up a tone that is responsible and respectful. He is obviously incapable of this given his bloviating and hateful attitude. He deserves every hard question that he gets.
73
Funny yet predictable. If anybody had dared to act like Acosta when Obama was in office, the howls of outrage from the Liberal media would have been deafening. Can you spell h-y-p-o-c-r-i-s-y.
10
@Jacob handelsman
You really think this is presidential behavior????
7
@Jacob handelsman: When Obama tried to boycott FOX News the "liberal" media supported FOX News not Obama.
6
If you want people to respect the office of the president, you need to act with a sense of civility when you are president.
I agree with the people saying that Mr. Acosta needed to show more respect and decorum (how else can we return to civil dialogue?), except that Mr. Trump has made it a point to reject any pretense of respect and decorum throughout his presidency. His tirade that started this mess is a classic example. Name me a single other president who remotely acted like that during a press conference?
Mr. Trump has burned every bridge possible with his constant and utter lack of respect for, well, just about everyone who doesn't support him 100%, starting with the press. So, the press have lost all sense of respect for him. And I for one refuse to blame the press for that lack of respect. You reap what you sow.
11
@htg
"Respect and decorum" this corrupt fraud and his fraud of a press person? No member of the press should be there listening to this garbage.
5
there is a certain humility that is missing in this leadership, perhaps based on a failure to understand that a president is a public servant
4
This editorial seems to make easy judgments and misleading analysis of a more complex set of facts. Watching the video (from the camera angle on the side), reveals some important points not discussed in the editorial:
* Acosta wasn't just asking "hard questions." He appeared to be trying to ask a series of questions, rather than letting Trump move to other reporters, even standing up again and interrupting once another reporter had started questioning Trump. Even though Trump's non-answers to Acosta's questions were frustrating, to an observer unfamiliar with WH press conference protocol, Acosta's behavior appears inappropriate. Would this not be a reason to pull a reporter's credentials? Or is that behavior more common than we know?
* Sanders's justification that Acosta lost his credentials for "putting his hands on a young lady" is infuriating. All he did was block the intern's arm while politely refusing to let her take the mike. Too many of us know all too well what real manhandling is -- that wasn't it. For the WH to make an incident of that is a (figurative) slap in the face to what we've really had to endure.
I don't understand why neither the WH or the editorial will address what seems to be the obvious issue: Are interruptions such as Acosta's grounds for pulling press credentials? Arguments about hard questions and faux manhandling are just straw men.
3
It's interesting Trump supporters don't find it rude when Trump completely interrupts a reporter when they are asking a question because he doesn't like the question. They have no problem with the Press being called the enemy of the people. They have no problem with Trump condoning the body slamming of a reporter. They have no problem with Trump not even mentioning CNN's name when they were sent pipe bombs. But Jim Acosta is the bad guy.
You have Sarah Sanders tweet out a clip of Jim Acosta's arm being sped up to make it look worse and yet she constantly complains about fake news. The Press should walk out of the next Press briefing. Sanders just lies constantly so they wont be missing much.
11
I would have handled it a bit differently were I Acosta. He gets to ask what he wants to ask an if the President lies he gets to call him out on it, but when the intern came over to take the Mic away I would have let her do it. A much more symbolic gesture than arguing, then hopefully the next reporter would follow up and ask the same question etc.
2
I find it interesting how many people have suggested that the media simply stop reporting about Trump's rallies, tweets, news conferences, etc. In other words, shed any last vestige of objectivity, and become nakedly, unabashedly partisan.
How would that accomplish anything more than confirming the right-wing belief that the mainstream media are dominated by liberal bias? I can think of few things that Trump would like more.
I have a better idea. If you don't like reading about what President Trump does or says, then stop reading, watching or listening to news stories about him. Simple.
6
Ever read any Victorian Age fiction?
There's a peculiar sound made by people in those works. Generally transcribed as TUT TUT.
Later writers amend this to TSK TSK. I have known people actually say "Tisk tisk"--as if that were the sound intended.
J. R. R. Tolkien does it better. When he writes "Samwise CLICKED HIS TONGUE but said nothing."
I say all this because there IS one effective little phrase you run into now and then.
TUT-TUTTERY.
It's what we do when we contemplate the sayings and doings of our President. We stand there, aghast, on the sidelines and say, "Tut tut!"
Or "Tsk tsk!"
Or we just click our tongues.
Let's keep doing it too. Better that than remain silent--ever more inured, insensitive--to the sayings and doings of this extraordinary man.
"None," you write, "has so wandered beyond the recognized bounds."
Bounds? What are bounds? This man recognizes no bounds.
There are invisible fences. How they work I do not know--but dogs are aware of some sound, some vibration--something or other--that checks them when they stray. It keeps them back. It holds them in.
Most grownups are the same way. Implanted in the brain is an inner check--it warns them, "You're going too far. . too far. . ...you've gone too far.. . . ."
Mr. Trump HAS no such inner check. None.
Guess what sound I'm making right now.
Bet you're making it too.
I think we're ALL making it.
3
One of the tenets of fascism is the elimination of a free press. Trump may seem like a buffoon at times, but that facade hides a very dangerous individual. Read "How Fascism Works" by Jason Stanley. You will see a number of characteristics of dictators that trump emulates quite well.
24
@Spencer
Just got the book. Plan to read it.
4
Support him by repeating the question over and over.
11
The NYT and all other responsible media outlets should stop attending briefings until the WH acknowledges that it has lied about Mr. Acosta and reinstates his hard pass. The official briefings are, in practical terms, not sources of information but an opportunity for the President or Ms. Sanders to perform the administration's position. Those performances should not have an audience if they can show no reciprocal respect for the job of the press.
14
trump needs to get to his thick head that he is not a monarch , or a dictator , he is merely chosen by the american people to work for us.
Donald trump won the election not by popular votes , Hillary Clinton had more than three million more votes.
Time is catching up with trump, he is an old man , who never showed his tax returns, his Russia connection , his constant lies may not go on for ever .
Mr. Jim Costa is young , energetic , a well known TV journalist and is unstoppable.
He may not be silenced.
14
A proposal: That all major news outlets, while continuing to cover the president and his administration, refrain from sharing with the public any video or photographic images of the president, and any audio of the president's voice, until Jim Acosta's privileges are restored.
9
I am old enough to remember how JFK, Reagan, and, yes, even Nixon, handled press conferences. JFK was witty and dismissive of inane questions; Reagan was charming and occasionally severe; Nixon was argumentative and lawyerly. All three were, in their own ways, funny, and all three would have make Acosta look a bit foolish. None of those guys acted like Trump. He looked more like Mussolini.
9
Of course Mr. Acosta should get his press pass back. But he owns some of what happened yesterday. He seemed to relish arguing with the president and did not yield the floor when his turn was clearly up.
He also put CNN, which has to defend him, in a tough spot. Heed needs to drop the holier-than-thou pontificating and do the necessary job of asking hard questions.
8
How is it the NYT editors and those of other major news organizations are not at the WH today voicing a mass protest against Trump and Sanders? Trump needs a platform and if the press continually plays his game - and it is HIS game - then they just keep losing. And how is it that some Americans had the misguided notion that voting for a Republican - any Republican - during the midterms was a good idea? They're just reinforcing this monstrous behavior.
15
In reading some of the commentary here, I was struck by the comments readers made in response to the suggestion that the press should boycott WH press conferences. Many readers felt that it would be better to step up the pressure, ask more pointed questions, keep trying to told Trump accountable.
Wow that sounds great on paper does it not? But what's the point of asking "pointed questions" if all you get in return are lies? Of deflections? These pointed questions never get answered. So the news story for the most part is just that: Trump and his cronies are either lying or not answering. That news is old.
So what WOULD happen if she held a press conference and the room was empty? If there were no reporters there at all? If they all boycotted en masse?
What if there was ZERO news coverage of his many repugnant rallies? He held over 30 of them going into the Mid-terms, and there was the media in the back of the room, dutifully reporting on his scripted phrases, his lies, his deceipt, and then re-broadcasting it to the world.
What if there was ZERO coverage of his rallies? Trump is a child of the media - he craves and needs to be on center stage. He is an attention junkie who has always believed that even bad press is better than no press.
So let's try no press for a change.
208
@Len: "Trump is a child of the media - he craves and needs to be on center stage. He is an attention junkie.."
Apparently so is the press.
8
@Len The problem is that in a deeply divided society, the media takes sides, partly because of belief, partly because there is a market there. Murdoch has papers in the UK pushing opposite views. Not because he believes in freedom of the press, but to cover all possible sales.
Even if the anti-Trump media were to unite and boycott press conferences, Fox News and the others, the media Trumpistas follow, will be there. The silence of the New York Times, Washington Post, etc, will make no difference to Trump followers, they don't look at them. And it will make Trump's life much easier. The NYT reporting what he's like hurts him because he can't stand being criticized by the paper he, as an aspiring New Yorker who could never leave Queens, would like more than anything to be praised by.
Please keep going to the press conferences, needle him if you can, and tell it as it is. Apart from anything else, if there are no reports of Trump in the intelligent press, intelligent people might think they live in normal times.
18
@hm1342 I don't think that's a fair statement, hm1342. It must be terribly frustrating for the WH press corps to cover this man, being constantly belittled and insulted, being called an enemy of the people. I can't blame them for standing up to him.
30
Mr. Acosta does not get to do whatever he wants whenever he wants. He asked a question, the President answered, and he wouldn't move on. Mr. Acosta should apologize to the intern for not letting her do her job.
19
@Kirby
The only mistake Jim Acosta made is taking the bait and not asking questions in context. Trump considers him rude because his behavior defies Trump's crafted image.
Trump should answer for his campaign ad, and his ability to be aware of the content s of something that is likely covered in his ignored security briefings.
It is ridiculous to believe him, even more so to defend him.
To keep falling for this is to perpetuate the wrongs we all seem to see.
Unless of course you think that an intern grabbing a mike from a press member is "doing your job" in America.
The constitution does not guarantee decorum of the press, only freedom.
I guess it is actually part of the intern's job to be a human shield.
1
@Kirby, what Acosta did is no different than dozens of WH journalists for decades have done. Seek to get as many questions in as possible while they can. You should direct your criticism to the president who was the real jerk. He is and was rude and no person in any job would not be fired if he acted the way he does whether he is a CEO of a publicly held corporation or a person working at a cash register of a McDonald's. There is no parent who would allow their kid to act the way Trump does.
2
Jim Acosta is and was nothing more than a plant attempting to incite a retaliatory action which he generously received. He was given a response to his original question but then refused to share space with other reporters. President Trump handled him as one should handle an overbearing and disingenuous reporter. Mr. Acosta should have been escorted from the chamber and revoking his press credentials in the White House is well warranted.
17
@Indie Voter So you agree with Trump's calling Acosta a terrible person? Really? Do you think that Trump knows that Acosta has been rude to many other people? Really?
2
I don't think most Democrats or Republicans really understand the full depth of how far away from the constitution we have traveled since DJT burst onto the political scene in 2016.
While the majority of onlookers pick nits with the chickens over slights directed at individuals and our institutions the reality is quite different for some important republicans malcontents.
They see in their president their last best hope to nullify and suspend the constitution to remake our country into the image they have wanted since 1865.
We are witnessing a sustained daily assault on democracy in preparation for anarchy and dictatorship.
Please don't lulled or surprised into believing this is a one off fluke.
9
Maybe I'm the exception here, but I was embarrassed by the President, Sanders, and her staff's behavior. Grade schoolers are expected to act better.
If press corp members sit meekly in their seats, hoping the President will call on them, they'll be waiting forever. They always fight for attention, no matter what the Administration.
The next time Trump is so rude, all journalists need to walk out. I live where I can watch Canadian national news. The CBC journalists last night commented no one can arbitrarily yank their credentials. Sounds we need the same policy for our supposed free press.
24
I keep thinking there is nothing this president could do that would shock me, but that press conference shocked me to the core. Trump’s words and body language were so hostile, threatening, and authoritarian that I expected him to call in the military at any moment and arrest certain reporters. How much more of this anti-democratic behavior are we (Congress and Senate) prepared to accept from our demagogue-in-chief?
27
There is a difference between aggressive questioning and and being outright rude. Your article fails to discuss this distinction - you just say that the questioning "provoked the president to fury". Sorry, but people, even reporters, should not be rude in a formal press conference. Mr. Acosta was rude, selfish to other reporters (for trying to dominate the time for questioning - no one else does this to the extent Mr. Acosta does) and is an egomaniac (Mr. Acosta seems to relish that he is the story, and not that he should simply be reporting a story). But I agree with you that Trump should not have taken away his press credentials - Trump should simply seat Mr. Acosta in the back of the room at the next press conference and not call on him.
13
@Jmilbrook You talk as if respect for the office of President should be untouchable, regardless of the incumbent. The President of the US has as much obligation, or more, to behave not like a semi-feral illiterate as reporters have to be respectful when they are respected. And it is the President, not the audience, who sets the tone.
Trump behaves like an animal in his rallies, congratulating other animals who assault journalists, and at every opportunity he has, wherever. That is the level at which the Presidency operates, that is the level at which should be treated.
6
But you feel it’s perfectly jake for the President of the United States of America to fly into a public rage, and show every bad guy on the planet that he can’t spend a half hour going over likely questions with staff, gets flustered easily, and has little by way of self-control.
This you think is okay.
8
@Jmilbrook You think Trump didn't know what would happen when he called on Acosta?? It's exactly what Trump wanted. Anything to deflect.
2
It isn 't that Trump doesn't understand the role of a free press, it is that he knows it well. He must undermine. It is the way of all dictators. would-be dictators.
11
@June Kreutzer: "It isn 't that Trump doesn't understand the role of a free press, it is that he knows it well. He must undermine."
Look at the press coverage of Trump - the vast majority is negative. How would you react? How is the press handling criticism of one of its own?
4
It is heartbreaking to witness a dim witted, Russian collaborator, violate the Bill of Right's First Amendment,
and listen to the sound of crickets from Senator Mitch McConnell and speaker Paul Ryan.
9
@Steven of the Rockies
Since you raise the concept of dim witted, how does Trump violate the First Amendment? The First Amendment starts: "Congress shall make no law ..."
Is Trump Congress?
The White House is obligated to hold no press conferences, and if it does, the President is not obligated to attend. If asked a question, the President is not obligated to respond. He is not obligated to favor, or disfavor, any particular reporter or channel, or be neutral. You see, the First Amendment also applies to him/her.
You might want to flip through through the Constitution once in a while ...
4
Two observations:
You comment on President Trump's " ignorance of the role of a free press in American tradition and democracy, " Perhaps. But this newspaper has a far greater, and probably more consequential, ignorance of the role of a free press in American democracy, with your often expressed objections to the SCOTUS decision in Citizens United, a decision which upheld this essential privilege espoused in the First Amendment. It's long past time for this newspaper to reconsider its stand on Citizens United.
As for Mr. Acousta, he crossed the line between reporting and disrupting. The President was correct in ousting him. There's no question but that President Trump frequently behaves in a manner which is inappropriate and unpresidential. But two wrongs don't make a right. Mr. Acosta was repeatedly disruptive, and revoking his White House credentials was a reasonable response. CNN is free to send another reporter, hopefully someone more mature.
14
@Alex Where in the First Amendment is there mention of money as equal to free speech?
8
On what evidence do you claim that he listens to anybody? For this narcissist, loyalty is a one-way street, and he surrounds himself with syncophants such as Sanders and Graham (and, formerly, Sessions). And he absolutely does not have any concept, nor care about, any difference between loyalty to himself (which is the be all and end all of anything) with loyalty to anything impersonal such as the Constitution, much less an abstract concept that he is incapable of grasping such as democracy.
6
Mr. Acosta (in my considered opinion) was absent when CNN had "Dale Carnegie Training." For younger readers, this is summarized by the title of one of his books, "How to Win Friends and Influence People."
Mr. Acosta is also (once again, in my considered opinion) employed by an organization that is reflexively anti-Trump. He is simply among the most visible of those who are spouting "the party line."
Irrespective of what one thinks of POTUS Trump, HE IS STILL OUR PRESIDENT. Even if we have little or no respect for the man, we must respect the Office.
In watching the video, Mr. Acosta did create an awkward moment with the lovely young female intern. When the microphone is "to be surrendered", allowing the next speaker their turn is certainly not an onerous request.
The suspension of Mr. Acosta's credentials ought to (in an ideal world) force this man (and his supervision) to think about how they treat this POTUS.
A stopped clock is right twice each day. Likewise, not everything that comes out of POTUS Trump's mouth is a lie. In short, we need to back away from the melodramatic soap opera and we need to allow POTUS Trump to govern (as clumsy as this sometimes appears to be).
The Press does have a role to play in articulating the truth (whatever it may be), but the current DC Press Corps is hardly objective in reporting on "all things Trump." Be critical where it is warranted (not on everything) and as long as the Press does its traditional work, we all will benefit.
11
@dmanuta why would anyone feel the obligation to 'respect the office' if the holder of that office doesn't respect it himself? to 45, the oval office is a profit centre and nothing else.
6
@dmanuta The number of falsehoods espoused by the president and S H Sanders is staggering, starting with the characterization of the migrant movement as an "invasion" moving back to the WH's description of the Inauguration crowd as the "largest ever". The press's "negative slant" merely reflects the degree to which the WH under this POTUS is undermining multiply institutions, including the Press and the FBI. He/she who expects respect/good behavior might start by offering it. Trump has, apparently, never learned this, as evidenced by the number of people and businesses he has stiffed over the years.
He is a boor and not worthy of respect, president or no.
5
@Michael DeHart It is the Office of the President that demands respect, not the current occupant.
2
"should try to impress on him the danger of confounding loyalty to Donald Trump with loyalty to the Constitution and to democracy"
Do you really believe at this point that Trump cares much about the Constitution and the democracy?
Call me cynical if you must, but I see NO evidence supporting that conclusion.
The only way that Trump will care about the Constitution and the democracy will be if another authority forces him to. But where would it come from? The courts? Sorry, he is busy packing them with minions. The Senate? No help there either. Only the House now can play that role. And will they have the fortitude required to take on this wannabe king?
Even worse, the American people barely slapped his wrist this week during the elections. It seems that for many, especially in the South, a king is what America needs, as long as this king outlaws abortions and send troops to stop the invading mothers and children trying to flee disturbance in Latin America.
Our country is living dark days indeed. We all need to pray for the House Democrats to be able to stand in his way.
11
Trump wouldn't let half the reporters finish their questions before rudely interrupting them. The PBS reporter whose question was deemed "racist" by Trump was simply beginning to frame her question, give it context about other people's perceptions (not her own), before asking about his claims of nationalism. How can a question be racist, if there is not yet any question?
20
A strong nation, like a strong person, can afford to be gentle, firm, thoughtful, and restrained. It can afford to extend a helping hand to others. It is a weak nation, like a weak person, that must behave with bluster and boasting and rashness and other signs of insecurity. -Jimmy Carter, 39th US President, Nobel laureate (b. 1 Oct 1924)
11
I agree that an outright boycott of the press room and less attention to his outrageous "diversions" would be a welcome change.
Instead of his tantrums, why not keep a running tally of the costs to the taxpayers of him, his family and some his administration who have charged the taxpayers for trips, furniture, etc. Instead of calling social security and healthcare (which we pay into) "entitlements", what about entitlements for f Secret Service for Trump's family to do Trump business around the world; the costs to other hotels of Trump's hijacking visitors from other countries by virtue of his office; the cost of his golf trips; pleasure trips, etc. This would include a running tab on his swampy staff.
This is not to even mention the cost of incarcerating poor people fleeing violence and separating them from their children; building walls; etc., etc.
We know the press is not the enemy of the people...the press is there to speak for the people. Why not try less speaking for Donald Trump and his followers ...more speaking for the people? Speak to the pocketbook and more people might listen.
8
Thank you Mr. Acosta for standing to this inexplicable, dangerous and angry man who is hurting our democratic system at its very roots. If the News sue this president for harassing one of our representatives, please include all of us, the citizens of this country who want to know the facts, what this administration is doing and what is hiding from all of us.Yes, Trump is harassing all of us because attacking the people in charge of getting us informed of what is going on with this dangerous administration, is harassing all of us , our rights of being kept informed of what is really going on.
5
i'm not sure what else to call it, but, the times' suggestion that the likes of sen. graham should try and 'temper' the excesses of 45 is quaint and naive.
what in the behaviour of 45's congressional enablers in the past two years gives anyone the idea that republicans give a toss about this administration's contempt for the constitution and rule of law?
9
I have watched presidents take questions from the press since Dwight Eisenhower when I was a child. Never have I seen such a display of presidential arrogance. As exhibited by this president in yesterdays press conference. The irony in Trumps behavior is the fact that he has made a career out of press manipulation. Dating back to his New York tabloid days up to his pre election in 2016. Here is a man who has never had to account for his actions his entire life. It's time for that to stop.
176
In my ignorance, I thought Acosta's job was to ask questions (hard questions, sure), not to make speeches or try to debate the President, and to hand over the mike to another reporter when his time is up. And I find it hilarious that he's been on Colbert, giving lip service to the notion that reporters aren't supposed to let themselves become the story. You don't want to be the story, but you're going on late-night talk shows? This is a guy who obviously loves the limelight.
44
@Dave Dave how you can justify the unjustifiable with arguments that doesn't not even address the central issue:
that the duty of our president is to answer all the questions, particularly, when he changes his "facts" as he pleases it.
24
@Maita Moto Beyond the obvious answer that Trump did in fact answer Acosta's question about calling the caravan an "invasion" (a question that was buried in a lot of pontificating by Acosta), I guess I must've missed that day in Con Law where the professor explained how the president has a duty to answer every question by every reporter, without end. I've been looking through Article II, but I can't seem to find that provision.
13
We are truly in the twilight zone. The press asked the president reasonable and important questions. They were persistant, professional, and amazingly calm considering the president’s nonsensical accusations. Not only was he unwilling to answer, he reversed the roles and called reporters rude. He refuses to take responsibility for his manipulative, false words. It was a display of utter incompetency.
8
My, how times have changed. Trump makes me sick to my stomach, but Acosta was way out of line. Just because Trump behaves badly doesn’t mean the rest of us follow suit. The protocol is you raise your hand, the President calls on you, you get your question, then one follow-up.
Acosta was recognized, asked his question, then his follow-up. Then he went over-board. The President even told him it was enough, and recognized another reporter. Acosta then interrupted that reporter, refusing to turn over the microphone.
Defending Acosta reminds me of all those who defended Michael Brown after he pressed himself into a police cruiser wrestling for the officer’s gun. Find another example folks to make your point; there’s more than enough examples how Trump has abused the office, dignity and respect of the Office of the President without us having to defend Acosta.
9
President Trump can throw all of the temper tantrums he wants. The best journalists will continue to do their job diligently.
Forty four years ago, two intrepid journalists help to bring down a president. Will journalism prevail again?
I shake my Magic 8 ball and get the following answer: “All signs point to yes.”
11
@Pro Press
Thank you for summing it all up with brevity and humor.
"All signs point to yes."
Perfect.
4
"Let Jim Acosta Do His Job" Really?
Like the editorial this doesn't begin to go far enough.
Rather, "Trump Tries to Throttle Freedom of the Press, in Violation of His Sworn Duty to Protect and Defend the Constitution."
With this new and improved headline, plus revisions, this should have been on the front page.
You say, "What is most alarming in the Acosta incident is its illustration of the extent of Mr. Trump’s ignorance of the role of a free press in American tradition and democracy, and of the president’s role in defending it."
More accurate to say that it is the Times itself that does not recognize the danger of what Trump is doing. Sure, there's a tut-tut but where do you say that Trump is violating his oath of office?
You're making excuses for Trump by saying he's ignorant. He's not ignorant. He knows what he's doing, he's a total demagogue. And it's not just a matter of "tradition and democracy"; freedom of the press is enshrined in the Constitution as law.
You finally get around to mentioning the Constitution in the last paragraph, but you talk about the need to be loyal to the Constitution. That's like saying loyalty to to the law. Law is not something you're loyal to or not, it's the law and you obey it, especially when you have sworn not just to obey it but to protect and defend it.
Evidently Trump does not believe in following the law, so you should say so.
At least you said "demonstrably false." Next time you could call it a lie. Vivid, I know.
6
@MF Well put; why does the Times kowtow and walk on eggshells around Trump? Yes, we're in uncharted waters with the Orange Menace, but can we drop the pretense of normality? And the Times asking the lackeys in his entourage to "impress on him" that America is more important than He Who Would be King? I'm sure all your readers routinely correct their bosses' behavior... How'd that work out for Mr. Sessions?
Most Americans have the luck of not having had to grow up or live under populist dictators, like Maduro in Venezuela or Perón in Argentina during his defining time in power, the latter my own experience, followed by an assortment of generals. But luck brings its own misfortune: unaccustomed to con people being in charge, Americans grant to their own specimens the respect owed to the dignity of the office. Trump is pretty obvious, but Huckabee Sanders is in a class of her own. Her pseudo-choking with emotion the day after the Pittsburgh massacre: 'The Pre-si-dent has a Je-wish daugh-ter and son in law...' (cue emotion at the hyphens) was worthy of the worst kind of soap operas, usually irresistible to watch. What a circus. And it will run and run.
5
"Mr. Trump would no doubt prefer that every member of the White House press corps be like Sean Hannity or Jeanine Pirro, the Fox News personalities who happily joined the president onstage at his last pre-election campaign rally in Missouri on Monday."
If there is any doubt in your mind about whether "Fox" and "News" belong in the same sentence, this should settle it.
3
Acosta was assertive, but civil, as always. And the notion that there was "physical contact," which the editorial improperly concedes, is absurd. Acosta's hand was open, his forearm "encountered" the contact initiated by the intern, and was mildly reflexive (and I don't blame the intern either).
Even some Times readers fall for the false equivalence. May I remind that Acosta, who was not inappropriate, is a reporter. His demeanor and personality are irrelevant.
The other "party" is the president of the United States. He called Acosta a "rude, terrible person" and gestured in an aggressive fashion. I needn't point out the hilarious irony of Trump calling anyone a "rude, terrible person."
Have we fallen so low that this behavior by a president is normalized and we criticize a reporter who dares do his job.
Had I been there, I would have earned the suspension of credentials by telling Trump precisely what I think of him, with or without the microphone.
7
President Trump is the first Latin-American president. He behaves like Chavez in Venezuela, Pena Nieto in Mexico, Ortega in Nicaragua, and the list can continue. The wall needs to be constructed surrounding the White House to keep the rest of the country safe.
4
For a president who rarely holds press conferences, it is not too far afield to assume that he held this one a day after the election simply to take his anger, frustrations and fears out on the press. His goal going in was to attack. This acting out laid bare that the pressure is on politically and personally for the president and that it is only a matter of time before the house of cards implodes.
9
@S Meyers
You comment as if you are a personal psychologist and adviser of the president who knows the: "fears", "frustations", "anger" and "goals" of the president of the USA. I admire your knowledge and understanding and willingness to grant us your wisdom and share it with the readers of the NYT.
2
I watched the video with my own eyes. Acosta was telling the President that he was wrong. The President respectfully said that he disagreed with Acosta. Acosta kept pressing him for a different answer, ignoring the interns attempts to take his microphone, and pushing her aside. I have seen the photos. CNN can send someone else. There is no attack on the free press. The President answered 68 questions for a total of 1.5 hrs. It is ridiculous to say this is an assault on the free press. You don't get to act like a petulant child just because you have a White House pass. There were many other people there with valid questions, and Acosta's grandstanding was ridiculous.
That being said, this kind of behavior by the press will help Trump win in 2020.
12
Mr. Acosta wasn't aggressive in any way. He was simply doing his job in questioning Trump and not allowing Trump to respond with a lie or refusing to respond at all. He in no way spoke or acted aggressively or in any way inappropriately for his job as an investigative reporter.
The White House Correspondents Association must demand that Trump fully reinstate Mr. Acosta's credentials (a hard pass) immediately or call for a full boycott of all of White House and Trump communications.
We are way beyond the realm of sternly worded cautions and into full fascist resistance from domestic enemies.
A free and open press is being attacked from within. Our Constitution is being violated by domestic enemies.
Trump is an organized crime boss whose base of operations is the White House. He is not our president, and we do not have a functioning executive branch of government.
He is deserving a a full investigation into his activities, into those who have and are aiding and abetting him, and those who are refusing to hold him to account.
6
We are living in dangerous times. Trump and his supporters must be held accountable for undermining our civil liberties. It has been said by so many that the good people within the Republican Party must make a stand against this aspiring dictator. Sadly, like lemmings, most have chosen to go over the cliff mindlessly placing party politics and power over the people. I truly fear for the future of this country.
3
Acosta was trying to elicit an answer that has some substance. Trump has no substance, therefore he only knows how to respond with some emotion, in this case anger.
5
I've been worried that someone might try to harm him based on Trump's hate-speak toward journalists, so I'm just happy he's still alive.
2
This sounds like abuse of the Secret Service, which is used to screen the members of the press as far as their admittance to the White House. Jim Acosta does not present a physical threat to anyone in the WH. Any good journalist, and Acosta has been sited as a good journalist by professional organizations, would pose a political threat to the chief occupant of the WH. The President regularly creates a physical threat for journalist by declaring them the "enemy of the people". It was Acosta's employer, CNN, that was included in the serial bomber's hit list.
The fact that the Sanders came up with a demonstrably false excuse for banning Acosta fairly well settles any question about the legitimacy of the WH complaint.
4
Jim Acosta and Peter Alexander who tried to defend Acosta along with Yamiche Alcindor and scores of other reporters over the last two years should file a class action suit against Trump for defaming them unjustly and putting them in harm’s way as well as endangering their lives and livelihoods.
Trump uses frontal assault as the bully he is. Because democracy goes hand in hand with the free press, Trump May think he has an unfettered hand to commit spousal abuse on the press, but he has another thing coming.
Acosta is just standing up to the school yard bully. The bully can give it but not take it. Boo hoo.
4
Anyone can see that most questions from the press are designed to provoke a buzz worthy response to boost ratings. Until the press stops playing ‘gotcha’ I’m not taking sides either way.
BTW I watched the entire 1.5 hrs press conference on YouTube. I would recommend everyone do the same and start making your own opinions from the raw data. Don’t let the NYT’s, the NRA, or anyone do your thinking for you.
1
White house press briefings are no longer that - just another venue for the perpetuation of nonsense from the president. Do reporters really need to attend these farces to question the president when every scheme and thought in his head is publicized on an hourly basis via twitter? Even more to the point, why bother with press briefings from Sarah Sanders - do we ever actually learn anything from her? It's just a sickening "cat and mouse" game with the press trying to trap Sanders into finally admitting that the president might have indeed told a lie. Isn't there enough evidence of the president's dissembling to report
without subjecting it directly to the conspiracy factory? The free press should no longer bother with these circuses and just report the news rather than allowing the president to use them as a foil for his outrage machine. And while they're at it, how about a moratorium on the the president's mug on the cover (or elsewhere) of the newspaper, haven't we seen enough already (and does it really contribute to the news or rather to the circus)?
2
Jim Acosta and any other White House journalist belittled and bullied by the President, should walk out. Better yet, all those offended (probably everyone but those who work for Fox) should walk out or boycott these presidential charades. Don't we always advise women who are talked to in that way by their partners that they should leave the abuser? Well, Trump is a verbal abuser and should be treated as such.
2
20,000 Google employees risked their jobs this week at of one of the most powerful companies in the world to stand on principle about gender inequity. They showed more courage than the WH press corps, whatever anyone thinks of Jim Acosta's motives.
2
This CANNOT be ok. the entire press corps should resign in protest
1
The White House reporters should all agree to a coordinated response to this banning - such as boycotting press briefings, or all asking one penetrating question whenever they are called upon.
1
The Press Corps should have walked out at trump's rudeness. If there is no one to hear him, does trump speak?
132
Trump revealed his mental state when he told Acosta to run CNN and to let him (Trump) run the country. He, at base, believes he runs the country, just as he ran his real estate company. Trump doesn't know enough about the Constitution and the principle so important to the founders that there should be a separation of powers and that not one should by itself run the country. He shows a profound disrespect for the institutions which have made the country so great and no respect at all for the press which the founders deemed indispensable for any country which aimed to be a democracy. The man is ignorant, a bully, willful, obstinate, and would turn the country into a dictatorship if he could. I am constantly apprehensive that the Congress has abandoned its job as a defender of the Constitution and that our civil rights are in peril. I would be really desperate if the Democrats had not taken the House in this election. And I still have hope that the Supreme Court will do its job. Overall though until I see some pushback, real pushback, from one of the three branches of government to the abuses of the Executive, I will remain anxious.
8
Harold: Judging from a recent clip that made the rounds of the Internet Trump can't even figure out close an umbrella let alone run a country. I saw the video in an Italian paper and I think the Italians were laughing at Trump and not with him. The only thing Trump knows how to run is his mouth.
1
It's time for the press to DO something. Writing editorials is not enough. This is an outright attack on the freedom of the press. Journalists must take a united stand here . Suppression of dissent is a precipitous slide to dictatorship - which you are well aware of.
DO something.
12
Trump is a national disgrace. So is the president of France, Emmanuel Macron, who is inexplicably maintaining his invitation to Trump for the Armistice Day célébrations in Paris. May have something to do with Macron's revisionist view of French history with his desire to rehabilitate the French Second World War hero Pétain. I suppose birds of a feather really do flock together....
2
You ae asking for the impossible to happen. Fox News will no more defend freedom of the press than they would say something negative about 45. Attacks by the White House on the news media are reprehensible and should not be tolerated.
5
I wish the media would stop referring to Trump as "President Trump" and reference him as either just "Trump," "Donald Trump" or "Mr. Trump." He forfeited the title long ago by showing no respect to the majority of the honest media journalists, Democrats and anyone who disagrees or challenges him. What a majority of even the most polite, civil, intelligent and democracy-coveting Americans call Trump would certainly not be fit for publication.
9
If you refrain from the news, you're misinformed. If you read the news, you're misguided. The fact is CNN, and every other news outlet including this one demonize the President day in and day out. You don't need a Ph.D. to realize the venimous hate mainstream media has for this man and along with every person who aligns with his policies.
3
the free press thanks, to the commodification of news has become a hunting ground for careerists on the make...see how many "reporters" are themselves in their stories, often even at the center.
most news is a mash of cut and paste ("...there are reports that...") and opinionism, (partisan talking points or knee jerk generalization that leads rather to the dimness of stereotype than illumination of cogency), not accurate accounting, reporting or analysis...recent examples in the NYT include most headlines and front page stories, closer to op-ed than verifiable fact verifiably sourced.
acosta, among the lot is an undistinguished journalist made prominent by his crassness, both in manner and craft...his preference is rather for provocation rather than investigation
...who, at the sight of him, hand raised, would not put up a guard and, so, offer little chance for the kind of reveal that a more circumspect reporter might elicit?
ted koppel, no kindly old uncle he, was adept at gaining trust, even from some of the most reluctant dragons he interviewed, and getting something about them or their circumstances that took us rather deeper into the issue than own personal struggle to get us there.
1
Interesting.
Same day, a CNN correspondent loses his pass, and a Fox News commentator has his house and his family targeted during an attack, but the NYT editorial broad consider only one of them has every right to do his job without being threatened.
3
@Erwan
Mr. Acosta is a reporter. Carlson is a pundit. There is a difference but that doesn’t condone targeting either for doing what they do. Conflating the two cases is false equivalence.
5
Trump's ignorance of history, the importance of a free press to democracy, and the role of a president was on full display yesterday in his appalling, embarrassing press conference. He continues to treat his job as nothing more than a TV reality-show host whose singular goal is to gain media attention--good or bad. In the words of former president Harry Truman, "If you can't stand the heat, get out of the kitchen."
5
What if Trump gave a press conference and nobody showed up? It would deprive him of a pulpit and an audience against whom tounload his venom, hatred, and delussions of grandeur.
To a demagogue and a narcicist this would be the ultimate slap on the face. While I relish thwe thought, I doubt the press would have the guts to, in a concerted effort, adopt this as a non-verbal and peaceful tactic to let this president know where they stand.
1
Absolutely.
Let Jim Acosta do his job.
But his job description doesn't include pushing away a young, female intern and humiliating her on national television.
His job in to report news, not make news.
2
Nice try. This is first semester tort law. She had absolutely no right to grab the microphone he was holding. What she did was technically battery, regardless of attempts to deflect from that by asserting irrelevancies like Acosta supposedly “humiliating” her. Blaming Acosta for physically reacting to a battery would be funny if it weren’t so sad to see Trump followers literally defending anything his administration does, no matter how unlawful.
4
@Kip
To whom does the microphone belong?
@John
Mr. Acosta did not push away the young woman. Stop repeating that lie.
5
Put your money wear your mouth is. Boycott Trumps press conference until he restores the credentials.
5
The NYT, and all other legitimate press should now do two things:
1. Walk out of the WH press briefing room and stay out until the press is treated with respect.
2. Stop covering tweets as if they are news. Just refuse to reprint them or report them.
6
Will we never wake up from this nightmare?
11
@sjs
2028, after Nikki's second term. Maybe
Can we please call a spade a spade? The claim that Mr. Acosta laid his hands on a young woman is not just "demonstrably false." It is a lie. Plain and simple.
8
"Power is in tearing human minds to pieces and putting them together again in new shapes of your own choosing. Do you begin to see, then, what kind of world we are creating?" - George Orwell, 1984
The book is an instructional manual for this administration.
Sarah Sanders is the Minister of Truth. Just see how she tossed the real video into a memory hole and behold, we have a new video showing what the Administration wants us to see.
6
The Press is not an "Enemy of the People."
The Press is a "Defender of the Constitution."
It is the President who assails the Press when it seeks the Truth and ignores its sacred place in our constitutional form of government.
You. sir, are not our King and we, including Jim Acosta, are not your subjects.
You need to understand that it is you, Mr. President, who serves us, not vice-versa.
7
What the young woman did, by physically grabbing the microphone Acosta was holding and trying to pull it away from him, under common law/tort easily and indisputably meets the definition of battery.
10
"....and coinciding as it did with his [Trump's] forcing the resignation of an attorney general who dared put law and propriety above craven loyalty."
Now go back and read the Times's opinion of Sessions when he was up for confirmation!
1
"Mr. Trump would no doubt prefer that every member of the White House press corps be like Sean Hannity or Jeanine Pirro, the Fox News personalities who happily joined the president onstage at his last pre-election campaign rally in Missouri on Monday."
If there was ever any doubt in your mind about whether "Fox" and "News" belong in the same sentence, this should settle it.
2
We are heading clearly towards a dictatorship rule. Spineless republicans are enabling this man to become one now. They will be the most impacted group of people very soon as everything that this country stands for.
5
People can spin the Truimp/Acosta confrontation anyway they please, but Truimp is our freely elected President. Acosta should have just set down after his original remarks when asked to, and not have been so defiant and disrespectful to a sitting President. With the majority of news reporters today it is almost mob rule in always accentuating the negative. What ever happened to non baised reporting? Opinions are great and are the foundation of a free society, but we have now gone way past that in so-called news reporting. My opinion only, but the majority of folks in this country feel news organization have let their biases dictate their reporting!
39
@Hardbody
Sorry... America doesn't work that way... we elected a person, we weren't given someone who rules by the divine right of kings....
36
@Hardbody I appreciate what you say but it is hard to remain unbiased when one side lies constantly. This whole drama started with Trump and is continued by Trump. The media just reacts. He spews out inflammatory nonsense constantly and deliberately to get reactions and then people forget the source of all the brew haha and Trump then whines claiming to be the victim and some people, possibly your good self, fall for it again and again. Trump is the source of all of it. Surely you understand that? Until he shows a little respect and stops creating the endless drama I doubt he will be treated any differently from the good men and women of the free press.
23
@Hardbody Hardboy, read please my comments to Dave, who like you doesn't address the real point which, actually, is not to hard to understand (unless you dream to live in a dictatorship): the President must answer all the question citizens want to ask, particularly, when we have a president who changes the "facts" as it fits him.
27
Good commentary. Sarah Sanders is spewing out lies every bit as much as this POTUS and she knows better. She serves a bully who instigates violence but is offended when a reporter briefly and accidentally touches someone's arm? She should resign and save us having to listen to her twisted justifications.
10
Trump’s petulant lashing out at reporters Jim Acosta and Yamiche Alcindor at yesterday’s press conference was vindictive and unwarranted.
It’s time the White House press corps reacted to an attack on one as an attack on all, and left the room en masse.
That collective action would send a message louder than a NYT Editorial.
7
Why don't you show or describe the actual exchange? Trump was done with Acosta, as is his right, and was addressing/selecting a new questioner. The protocol was clearly to hand the microphone to the young woman so she can take it to the next questioner - this happened the other 34 times the microphone changed hands. But not with Acosta, not him. He forcefully held on to the microphone. The young woman was clearly alarmed by his behavior, which was rude and threatening ("I am keeping this mic"), and clearly put her in an uncomfortable position.
Acosta is being banned not for asking questions (otherwise Trump would never address him) but for being a deliberate jerk going as far as offending the helpless hired staff. Shameful.
They ought to ban him for life. Does CNN not have another reporter? What is so sacred about Acosta?
--- 1:22 pm Thur
9
Holding a microphone is “rude and threatening”? You know nothing about the law. What the young woman did by grabbing the microphone Acosta was holding easily qualifies as battery under tort law.
2
@Kip
It's her microphone, not his, and she operates under the direction of the President. Acosta held on to the microphone when he was told by Trump several times to give it up.
"Rude and threatening" as I said did not connote a legal issue, just an obtusely obnoxious behavior issue, and your straw man doesn't hold up.
Having said that, if I were you, I would not presume too much when claiming that I know nothing about the law.
NYT - CNN - MSNBC - White House : please post your etiquette rules you agreed to abide by when attending a Presidential Press Conference in the White House?
And why did NYT not show the photo from the Right side showing Acosta pushing the young woman's arm away the third time - AFTER the President repetitively said he was done, sit down and called on someone else?
There must be a rule that clearly states NO TOUCHING WH STAFF.
I like Acosta - when he isn't rude. He has the look and the voice - but he lacks in temperament, manners, and appropriate etiquette.
Surely, you have legal papers you signed to authorize Professional Journalists into the White House and how they MUST BEHAVE DURING A WH Press Conference.
Just taking a leap here lol - You do not scream down, constantly interrupt a Politician like you are paparazzi at a rock concert. WH provides an intern to expedite questions by moving the microphone around so more journalists can ask more questions.
I don't think he realized he pushed the woman's arm away - but he did, the questioning moved on, the President called on other people and the intern was doing her job that calls for following the President's lead to move the microphone. Acosta refused to relinquish the microphone three times.
5
@ME Agreed - Acosta was grandstanding and doing the press corp a great disservice. This was a press conference with the President, not a cross-examination and the President was quite right to move on to give other questioners a turn.
2
Acosta is a self-promoting jerk who actually signs autographs at political events. By refusing to give up the microphone, he earned his banishment from the White House. Hopefully, a year from now it will be Jim who?
7
I would add that Tucker Carlson should also be allowed to do his job without a left-wing mob assaulting his house and family.
Let's see if the NYT will write an outraged editorial about this mob action against a conservative journalist. If they are fair, then they will.
6
This editorial is incomplete without the word "childish."
If we are to "let Jim Acosta do his job" lets first define what his job actually is:
Provocateur?
Sympathy-generating-ratings-enhancer?
Never-Trump morale enabler?
Misleading conspiracy stoker?
Please, tell us why we should put up with his not-quite-ready-for-journalism schtick?
4
Acosta habitually used White House press conference as a forum to debate issues with the president rather than ask questions. He forfeited press pass when he refused to relinquish the microphone and struggled with a White House aide who attempted to pass the microphone to another reporter.
4
This is another opportunity for the press to show their solidarity and gumption. ALL of them should stand outside the press briefing room as a strike against this administration's total disregard for truth. Of course they would oppose the press. How frustrating it is for the disgraceful occupant of the dishonored Oval Office to have to deal with truth when the press keeps pressing on his untruths. And I saw the actual altercation between the intern and the reporter. She is the one who tried to grab the mike out of his hands, and he is the one who moved away from HER hands. Lies and lies and lies for the past 2 years. ENOUGH!!
2
I get that you hate, hate, hate Trump., but editorials like this make it too easy for Trump to vilify the NYT. Jim Acosta's continued self-beclowning on the national media stage should be an embarrassment for all journalists. It's not defensible and it allows Trump to claim "Look the NYT even took that clown Acosta's side." Choose your editorial positions more wisely. I think the NYT's series of articles on Trump's family inheritances and business and tax issues over the decades would have been far more impactful if the NYT hadn't spent so much time attacking Trump over absolutely everything.
7
Time for the media to step up and defend Acosta and itself from this, especially given that Baghdad Sarah justified tRump's pulling of the press credential using a doctored video.
Ban all WH employees and surrogates from appearing on ABC, NBC, CBS, MSNBC, CNN, CNBC, BBC, etc. No Kellyanne, no Jack Kingston, no Baghdad Sarah, no Newt, no Rudy, no Gym Jordan, no McConnell, etc. until and unless Acosta is reinstated, Sanders resigns and tRump apologizes.
Enough is enough.
5
The White House went to war with the press
And revoked a reporter’s access
When it was unhappy
With questions too snappy
For the president’s level of stress
2
The Times can help by shunning Sanders and her propoganda presentations. Ignore her. Starve her of the oxygen of media attention.
3
I want to hear one thing from every news agency - including the New York Times - that they will not participate unless Acosta is reinstated. Simple as that. Anyone who would is supporting this deliberate censorship and muzzling of reporters.
No accepting the lies about the intern, nor the demand that all questions be soft and gentle.
3
If that guy treated Obama the same way, your opinion would be different. Think about that.
5
He's a prima donna who loves center stage. Anybody defending his constant exhibitionism is so far into their Trump Derangement Syndrome that they've lost all capacity for rational thought.
4
When are we going to call a spade a spade. This is not populism. This is fascism in the making.
1
Spare me the lecture. That Trump is boorish and odious and needs to be kept is check is a given. But you guys spent eight years fawning over Obama while he made Constitutionally dubious uses of executive power. Not sure nettlesome or challenging power is how I would characterize your actions then. Physician, heal thyself.
6
What’s unfortunate is that these capable journalists have to put up the moronic insult comic, Trump, instead of calling out his nonsense.
2
As per Andrea Mitchell; Acosta was set up to deflect from the election results. In that context it's even more disgusting.
3
Is Jim Acosta a journalist? The job of a journalist is to report the facts in an objective manner. But Jim Acosta was offering commentary and opinion and was doing so in a aggressive and rude manner. If Jim Acosta wants to be a political commentator or an advocate for illegal immigration then he should seek a career change.
5
A reporters job is to report the news, not become the story. Acosta has time after time made himself the story. Not sure when they began teaching that in J-school, but older reporters are horrified and angered by his tactics. For his part, Trump should lose the anger and try to be more tactful in his responses. It would make Acosta look like a bigger jerk than he already is.
1
Trump’s petulant lashing out at reporters Jim Acosta - and PBS's Yamiche Alcindor - at today’s press conference was vindictive and unwarranted.
It’s time the White House press corps reacted to an attack on one as an attack on all, and left the room en masse.
Imagine the effect that would have on our Narcissist-in-Chief.
3
Trump is more like a petulant boy king than a president. He feels entitled to special treatment and special privileges. He breaks norms without a second thought, criticizes others for doing what he does, threatens to lock up political opponents who are much less corrupt than he is, and attacks anyone who poses a threat to his dominance or reveals his abject dishonesty. He is a moral degenerate and a pathological liar. The sooner we are rid of him, the better. Meanwhile, those around him who enable his tantrums, his lies, his norm breaking, his demagoguery and his boorish, bullying behavior are complicit. History will judge them harshly.
4
The entire WH press corps should now begin any inquiry with, "Jim Acosta wants me to ask:...", as a statement of solidarity.
2
Sarah Huckabee Sanders and others in the Trump administration work for a man who bragged about assaulting women. What can you expect from such a crew?
4
Baloney. They guy had several questions answered and it was time to give someone else a chance.
He asked for another question and didn;t get it.
When the President fo the United States answers your questions - at length - and then says it is time to move on, you move on.
Acosta is just a rude, pushy egotist trying to evoke sympathy for exhibiting the same behavior traits as Trump. Had anyone acted this way with Obama the Times would have had them hung in effigy.
Acosta: But let me ask … if I may ask one other question …
Trump: OK, that’s enough.
Acosta: Mr. President, if I may …
Trump: Peter, go ahead.
Acosta: If I may ask one other question. Are you worried …
Trump: That’s enough. That’s enough.
Acosta: But, Mr. President, I — well …
Trump: That’s enough.
Acosta: I was going to ask one other …
Trump: That’s enough.
Acosta: The other folks have had …
Trump: That’s enough.
What part of: "That's enough" does the Board not understand ?
4
Margaret Sullivan is right: CNN and the NYT and every other responsible news organization (Fox) should challenge the decision in court as a violation of the First Amendment.
2
@Austin Kerr
Margaret Sullivan labors under a delusion if that's what she said. The First Amendment prohibits Congress from instituting restrictions on speech, not the President.
If there were no press conferences, no law would be violated.
I'm as much disgusted by that White House aide. Has she drunk so much of the Trump kool-aid that she doesn't mind helping him walk all over the Constitution?
1
I comment infrequently these days, because I read less frequently (and thoroughly). I'm exhausted by fear and anxiety. My former at-the-ready anger has worn me out and left me just plain old discouraged. My husband will say, "did you read this or watch that" and my reply is, "I no longer have the stomach to pay attention the way I should."
Pep talks welcome.
10
Don’t give in to the madness. That’s just what Trump wants.
2
@Susan I feel you but did MLK Jr. give up? Did Rosa Parks give up? Did the Suffragettes give up? Did Woodward and Bernstein give up? NEVER!
1
I’d note, first, that Trump’s treatment of a black reporter and a Japanese reporter who both asked fair questions was in some ways even worse—I kept waiting for Our Beloved Hizzoner to start channeling Mickey Rooney’s ugly little racist caricature from “Breakfast at Tiffany’s”—but I really just have a simple, dumb question.
Skip figuring out who was right and who was wrong. Even skip the flagrant lying about Acosta shoving a woman, and the obvious racist contempt.
Why is it okay to show every bad guy on the planet that the President of the United States of America can’t keep his stuff together for maybe sixty minutes? Why’s it okay to show the planet that this country’s run by a guy who can’t figure out what questions he’s gonna get asked, sit with staff for a few minutes and figure out some basic answers, so he can get through a presser without turning bright purple?
Assume that you’re right, and Acosta was to blame. Why is it okay by you to have a President who can’t cope, and who SHOWS THE ENTIRE WORLD that he can’t?
11
@Robert: The President's ego is too big to not have a press conference. No matter what, in his mind it's always about him. The press, unfortunately, believe the same thing.
The whole White House presscor should walk out in solidarity!
8
Does CNN own that microphone or is it allocated to reporters by the White House staff?
3
Um, in this country everything that the White House hath is paid for and belongeth to the People of the United States of America.
How’t that work in yours?
1
Sometimes the hardest thing to do in life is tell the truth. That Trump and his lackey Sanders consistently fail to do just that, and actually make up more lies to hide their existing lies, proves their abject cowardice.
The most powerful man in the world was made to look a fool and a coward by being asked a couple of very simple questions.
What a pitiful coward. And what a pitiful country this has become when nearly half of it will vote for such a raging, racist bigot. Proving that half of American's, too, are plain dumb and scared of things and people they do not know and will not spend time trying to understand.
Hence, in many respects, the gun culture; for protection against other Americans with guns.
This country is on its head.
27
@James DevlinYou are right, but the real Problem is not Donald Trump, but the unprecedented amount of Americans who support him, in spite of his obvious incapacity for the Position. Trump is the mirror of the American Soul!
1
I watched that press conference live, the whole darn thing. Acosta was being a jerk. It's always about Acosta, he likes to place himself in the story, he cares not one iota for any other reporter in the room, he wants to hog it all for himself. It was very rude to push the young intern away, Corey Lewandowski did about the same and the press crucified him, and he even had charges brought upon him. I think Acosta losing his White House press credentials, shows they went easy on him. CNN Has plenty of others to send in his place
9
@JoeYou You clearly didn't watch the press conference because he never touched her.
3
No, it’s always about Trump. It’s he who hogs the stage, baits the press, encourages violence, and then shams outrage when his lies are challenged. That Sarah Sanders could claim that our groper-in-chief was defending a female intern’s honor only adds a grim note of farce to our nation’s ongoing tragedy. Only when the president loses his pass to the White House will we be safe.
1
What did the NYT expect?
When the Press is 'the Enemy of the People' body-slamming a reporter is okay. So is the dismemberment of a Washington Post journalist by flunkies of the president's princely pal in Riyadh.
We are surprised Sarah Sanders has been so gentle with Jim Acosta. She could have accused Acosta of physically attacking a White House aide and then have him flogged in public, Saudi style.
Jim, count yourself lucky.
6
Acosta was a clown. And the President fell into the trap. Where is the decency and respect? Shame on both.
5
No one is going to tell Trump to "temper his rhetoric." Fantasy that the Times Editorial Board operates under is a bit scary.
2
Just watch the exchange. Acosta was totoally out of line. The first thing out of his rude little mouth after thanking Trump was, “ I’m going to challenge you.” That is a confrontational statement, not a searching question. It was: me against you, Mr. President. Disgusting and disgraceful on Acosta‘s part. I thought at the time the secret service should have thrown him on the ground, then thrown him out the front door.
8
Saying you're going to challenge someone on a rhetorical point is completely civil and customary in an adversarial relationship, which that of the government and the press always is. It's their job to challenge!
4
He was challenging Trump on his blatant lies regarding the caravan “ invading” this country. You call that being out of line. Trump should be able to handle his lies .
4
@Pilot Hmm, someone makes a statement that is a blatant falsehood, and when you say "I am going to challenge you", you should be thrown out? The whole point of journalists at the press conference is to get to the truth, which is something that Trump has zero interest in. Trump was the one that was disgusting and disgraceful for the entire length of the question and answer session.
1
So walk out. Take away their oxygen. They need you.
The craven way the NYT sold positive coverage for access to the Bush White House later caused Bill Keller to apologize for your poor professional standards.
Hold up some high standards by putting support for journalism ahead of a couple of WH press briefings that are basically worthless to start with.
7
Hey New York Times - why don't you join Acosta and boycott Trump pressers and White House Briefings?
8
Everybody could plainly see that the intern tried to forcibly yank the microphone out of Acosta's hand and he didn't lay a finger on her, yet Sanders tries to gaslight us that he "laid his hands on her" as if video hasn't been invented yet.
Again, this is the quadzillionth time I've said this, but it was clear what was coming after Spicer came out and lied about the inauguration crowd size.
This is chilling, and it's high time the press takes some kind of stand.
26
@JayK
Trump does not even understand what a free press is for and what his role in it as our president might be...
Everything to Trump is theatre.
He came in looking for theatre yesterday. It is always a sideshow with him. That's the way he wants it.
Farce over substance.
3
@JayK
Your are correct that "he didn't lay a finger on her".
It was the bottom of his hand or wrist, depending on the angle. And it was forceful enough to push her arm out of the way.
Once again, let's all agree that it's inappropriate for a man to EVER deliberately touch a woman without her consent.
Moreover, let's also agree that it's never right for a man to humiliate a young woman on national television.
2
@John
He instinctively brought his arm up in a defensive move because she rudely attempted to yank the mic right out of his hand and she basically bumped into it.
The attempt to characterize what he did as somehow inappropriate or humiliating is preposterous.
What she did at Trump's behest was outrageous and as far as I've seen in my 60 years on the planet unprecedented at a presidential briefing.
Something like this ever happening at any presidential press event would have been completely inconceivable before Trump.
5
The reason that the White House gave for suspending Jim Acosta's access was a classic smoke & mirrors show that caters directly to his political base. By describing the issue in terms of a physical confrontation between a man and a young woman, they are framing a staffer as a victim of an assault.
The fact is that Jim tried to pull away the arm of the staffer AFTER she tried to take the microphone away from him. This was neither an assault nor an attempt to intimidate her. As a member of the press, Jim felt that he had the right to be in the room and do his job, and the staffer felt that she had the right to remove the microphone from his hand as he was speaking.
Nobody was hurt during that encounter and it's outrageous that anyone would try to depict that event in terms of a physical confrontation.
42
@RAR
In fact, there was "hurt".
A young woman was simply doing her job. She was perfectly within her right to take the microphone. It is not CNN's microphone, it's the White House's microphone.
Acosta then brushed her off as if she was meaningless. He showed his complete disregard for this young woman, on national television no less.
Acosta, like all men must understand that they have no right to disrespect a woman like that.
Such disrespect inflicts emotional pain, which is often deeper and longer lasting than physical pain.
2
@John As an aide to the president, I am sure she is going to have much deeper emotional pain over the course of her internship than having someone refuse to hand over a microphone at a press conference...moreover, if you want to talk of disrespect, you would do much better if you acknowledged an utter lack of respect by Trump for everyone journalist in that room.
2
Note that Mr Trump did not have to acknowledge Mr Acosta for a question. Note also that in Mr Trump’s long term strategy, he needs to have a discredited news corps facing him. I think that whatever the question advanced by Mr Acosta, this was stage managed to provoke a showdown.
24
Trump and his supporters in our heartland are taking us into fascism. Blocking Jim Acosta's White House press access is one more step.
The event also once more shows that trump can't have a rational dialog with anyone. True, our trump heartlanders love trump's surliness, but I'll remind them that it's not the way to get a job, as they complain about their inability to get jobs. You're not going to get a job at Walmart by insulting the customers.
Trump has no confidence. Any president who is confident in her or himself could easily spar with a reporter (one who is honestly doing his or her job; moderators like Laura Ingraham, Sean Hannity, Ann Coulter, et. al. are not honest. They make their living off of trump's lies). Jim Acosta, along with CNN, of course, has a good reputation. Work with him.
But trump has his dumb supporters and his propaganda organ, Fox Noise, that games them. Trump lacks the moral fiber to show his unthinking followers how to behave ethically and rationally. This is how he divides this nation. Expelling Jim Acosta merely demonstrates that trump has no credibility as president.
It's going to be a long road back to restoring our once proud democracy.
47
A more constructive course of action would be a press boycott of the White House press room for outright lying to the press. Stop highlighting all the Trump noise and put what actually happens on page one instead, even if it is the press that makes the news this time.
112
@dyeus
Consider dropping Trump as always the news lead. Stop giving him his headlines for every lie out of his mouth. Stop repeating his lies. Let him be smaller.
15
@Judith Not a bad thought at all..
1
The entire White House press corps should show solidarity in some fashion to alert younger citizens to Trump's outrageous behavior and denigration of a free press.
I'll not forget the treatment of President Obama by Jake Tapper the day of the Sandy Hook massacre. After the President finished his remarks, Tapper asked: Well, where were you?" As if Obama could have prevented the shooting. Soon after, he left ABC.
Please don't let Trump's behavior be normalized by letting yesterday go.
77
@Blessinggirl
And President Obama did not ban Jake Tapper from the White House. Whaddya know. Actual rude behavior, truly out of line - and Obama is civilized. Normal reasonable questions and follow ups - and Trump has a Trumper tantrum.
4
The Editorial Board did not use the word, but Donald Trump has surround himself with "propagandists" whose mission is to reenforce his every action and whim. Any questioning of "Dear Leader" is unacceptable and will be suppressed. The idea of an independent press that fact checks and questions him or his toadies is really only relevant if you believe in democracy. This is a form of government that Trump and the GOP find abhorrent. For the Trumpists the constitution and the rule of law is irrelevant unless they can use it as a weapon to maintain power. As a nation this is where we are.
55
Instead of feeding the beast I think the press should altogether stop broadcasting, in any way, shape, or form, the words spewing from Trump's mouth. Instead they should just provide coverage of his actions. It's his words that incite. Most of the time he bombastically threatens, then doesn't follow through. Let his actions be the news, NOT his words. I think it would present an entirely different picture.
62
FOX News is the reason this won’t work.
1
@mmarsz2 I would so love a day or a week or a month WITHOUT any mention of this abhorrent President or anything he lies about. There are so many other happenings in the US and in the world. Why do we publish and announce every word he says?
mmarsz2: Trump's insanity needs to be on full display for everyone to see, unpleasant and ugly as it is to watch. It won't do to hide him behind a curtain and turn him into the Wizard of Oz. By failing to show him in all of his ignorance, dishonesty, vulgarity and incompetency you want to turn Trump into a piece of fiction romanticized às a hero by Fox News. The voters deserve to know exactly what they are getting. Sadly too many approve, but that is their right.
2
"Thank you for showing respect and dignity as an authority figure even in the most challenging of moments."
I wrote this the other day to a policeperson who was describing how tough their job was at times and how they never used their service weapon to respond unless facing deadly actions (shoot if they throw rocks...).
I couldn't help but recall my words, and how one of, if not the highest, authority figure in our country can't seem to take on this notion of respect, dignity, and challenging situations.
Yet, for millions of others, this is the professionalism they uphold in their daily jobs and lives, day in and day out.
17
"Mr. Trump is not likely to temper his rhetoric. But those he listens to, including Ms. Sanders, Senator Graham and the executives at Fox News, should try to impress on him the danger of confounding loyalty to Donald Trump with loyalty to the Constitution and to democracy."
Seriously, New York Times? Nothing anyone says to Donald Trump will make any impression on him whatsoever. By now that should be evident to even the most casual observer. No, there is no 'redemption' possible for this individual and no reason to admonish him to behave when one knows that he is beyond admonishment and behavior modification of any kind.
The best solution will be a removal of this seriously flawed and dangerous individual from the highest office in the land.
And as soon as possible. Each passing day places our nation in graver and graver danger.
37
Trump rarely gives press conferences. When I watch, I am often frustrated because reporters do not always follow up on his excessively broad responses. Here, Mr Acosta was trying to do just that and we see the result- press credentials withdrawn, and a blatant lie to smear him from the Press Secretary.
Mr Trump always speaks admiringly if people who are “tough” and “strong.” A tough and strong person would not have been threatened by Mr Acosta’s persistence.
64
Graham thinks he's doing us all a favor by channeling Trump's ravings, repeating them as if we need a translation. Yesterday's unhinged press conference, and the farce of Trump's phony outrage at Acosta, Alexander and Alcindor, proves this TV show has run out of new plots, and the public is tired of the aggrieved billionaire act. Time for cancellation.
I do want to watch the upcoming specials, however, including the Trump family perp walks, Jared modeling the latest in orange, and teary Melania waving goodbye to the Marine One helicopter as Trump goes into self-imposed exile in Russia. That will be "must-see TV."
27
How disappointing that the entire press corps didn't walk out of yesterday's shameful "presidential" news conference. For goodness sakes--for the good of the country--show some guts, members of the press! Make a statement, even if it's just a one-time thing. Boycott the next Sarah Sanders/Donald Trump sideshow.
29
@Jackson
This is a great point, they should have walked out en mass and from now on no more rallies. Just report they took place. All this coverage just engorges the narcissist in chief.
1
@Jackson "The press" is not a monolithic entity though. Many competing newspapers, websites, and TV networks are all competing for a story. Despite what the President and others among the GOP say, there is no "liberal media cabal". That's why there won't be a boycott. These people are not working together!
@Matthew I understand that members of the White House press corps answer to different bosses, and I’m not advocating a complete boycott, but rather a one-time coordinated mass “stay away” or walkout—particularly when Sarah Sanders occupies the podium. Her briefings rarely offer anything more than propaganda and outright lies anyway—the kind of disinformation that is readily available elsewhere.
If the news media had fulfilled its role in "questioning and challenging power" for the past twenty-five years, Trump would not be President, and this country would not be at the edge of an abyss.
So now you--and the rest of us--have to live with the consequences of your utter failure to do so.
8
@TB Again, the "news media" is not some cabal. Each newspaper, TV network, and website does its own thing. Don't buy the narrative from the GOP that there is some secret society called "the liberal media."
The time for president Trump to physically move the executive branch out of DC to a friendlier and more supportive environment like say, Tennessee or Montana,is approaching fast.
There the commander in chief can organize press conferences attended by farmers/journalists on market day, and Ms Huckabee-Sanders would be closer to her dad.This would alleviate her trademark stress and offer better hospitality conditions when she decides to dine out with her family.
Should the relocation be Montana,Greg Gianforte could help reduce security costs by volunteering to body slam anyone daring to ask questions at a press conference.
This is my modest proposal: a rural White House,closer to its electoral roots ,inhospitable to Megapolis folks and nosy dreck seeking journalists.
36
But would Melania like the country life?
3
What’s next? Move the White House to trump hotel?
1
@Anaboz she will always have Liubliana! There once was a gal named Melania...
1
The press conferences are meaningless because no matter the question, this President rambles on about his poll numbers, popularity, crowd size and “wins.” It is rare that a reporter gets to point out that their question was not answered. Acosta stands there and repeats his question. It is the only way to deal with this hostile and evasive President.
Then, Sarah Sanders puts out a doctored video, falsely claiming that Acosta put his hands on a VERY aggressive young intern who was touching HIM, trying to get the mike out of his hand. He said, “Excuse me, Ma’am.” He did not touch her.
This open contempt for the press is so alarming. Reporting any NEWS that is not excessively complimentary to Trump is labeled “fake.” Trump has clearly stated that those who are not “nice” to him will be targeted with his wrath. I’d like to see every journalist in that pressroom take a knee in protest. If they won’t band together, then any one of them could be the next to have their press pass denied.
Sarah Sanders should resign. Talk about fake news. She is disgraceful, as is the man she lies for on a daily basis. Enough.
133
@Kathryn Acosta and CNN should sue them. The doctored video is unlawful. They tried to defame Mr. Acosta. Hope they sue Trump.
10
@Jennifer. Doctoring/post production tampering of video/audio tapes for public release IS creating propaganda....this admin is all about propaganda and false news, that is the stock in trade of Fox TV(as they are not a licensed legit news broadcast station) and this criminal Trump admin is clearly just a branch of Fox working to destroy the USA.
6
Both Acosta and Trump share blame here. Acosta was grandstanding. A press conference is exactly that: an opportunity for a multitude of press to ask questions. It isn't the Jim Acosta show; he behaved badly. And of course, there's Trump who doesn't know the meaning of dialogue, only rule by fiat. His is a personality totally unsuited to the office of president and, on top of that, dangerous in his constant attacks on the press and democracy.
68
@dougnsf Wrong, he was exercising his duty and job as a member of the press.
92
@dougnsf No he was not grandstanding, please, I am an actress and I know what grandstanding is. Acosta was really very civil and polite. And he took up very little time and asked questions I wanted answers to myself.
136
@dougnsf
Acosta is blameless. He was doing his job. He asked a reasonable question, fully on topic for a post-election press conference. Trump called on him, and he asked a question. Trump cut him off, and he persisted just as every other reported did when Trump cut them off, too. Watch the tape. It's like a dance. Reporter asks a question, Trump interrupts, reporter persists, Trump responds.
307
Knowing how Trump deals with 'tough questions'; this reporter appeared to be intentionally trying to rattle the President.
If this is good journalism per the good folks at the Columbia Graduate School of Journalism, so be it. If this reporter 'stepped over the line' and wanted to make a name for himself, then I would be curious what the folks at Columbia think of his actions (and the Presidents as well)?
3
@JK
You can't be serious - you don't seem to have any idea how endangered your democracy is.
When you defend the indefensible Trump from being freely questioned by a free media, you've got a big, big problem.
3
The Fourth Estate is essential to our democracy. President Trump values his free speech. He most freely and often questions the reporting of his speech.
We need reporters to freely question him. He can freely answer the questions. We can then agree or disagree with his answers. It's called freedom of speech.
To suspend a pass is to suspend free speech. Undemocratic. It is a dark moment. To be against any suppression of free speech is a patriotic duty.
40
Dear Editorial Board,
If you have not done so, the first thing you should do is to watch/listen to the entire exchange between Acosta and Trump. And I mean actually listen. My conclusion was of two children arguing. Neither had the moral high ground. Acosta "asked" (or attempted to) more than one question. In his question, Acosta didn't play the role of unbiased reporter. He instead played the role of advocate, taking a position and deliberately arguing with the President. That's not the job of any reporter. Acosta waved away the woman whose assignment it was to to take the microphone. Of course, Trump doesn't take criticism well, and I was surprised he didn't blow up earlier.
Three things to note here. First, I doubt the NY Times would allow such behavior from their White House correspondent. Second, CNN is allowing Jim Acosta to continue to be its WH reporter only for the ratings. Last, I would love to read the position of the Board if a Fox News reporter had ever "challenged" Obama about all the falsehoods about the ACA that Obama touted in a news conference in the manner that Acosta "challenged" Trump.
CNN should replace Acosta. If not, the White House should reinstate his pass and then never ask him a question again.
16
@hm1342: The people should replace trump, as well.
And, I would love to know if Obama would have denied press access to your imagined Fox Noise reporter. You didn't get that far in your scenario.
You are the expert. You are part of the decision making process at CNN, yes?
6
God forbid Trump takes the high road at least once
As much as I’d want to point out that President Obama took plenty of guff from the Press (as did Dubya, as did Big Bill, as dis Bush senior, as did Reagan, as did Carter, as did they all) and never detonated like this, I have a simple question:
Do you think it’s good to have our President show everybody on the planet that he’s incapable of self-control?
2
Letting Jim Acosta, or any other journalist, is exactly what the president doesn't want to do. He takes criticism, constructive or otherwise, personally and demonizes the press as enemies of America because they have the temerity to ask him tough questions. If Sean Hannity, Jeanine Pirro or Sarah Sanders did their jobs in a professional and impartial manner and asked the president tough questions that Acosta does he'd surely view them as threats to the country as well.
5
Why do the other reporters tolerate Trump (and Sanders) attacking members of the press like this? Why do other reporters continue to ask questions at the press conference as if nothing horrendous just happened?
Why don't they all just get up and walk out when Trump or Sanders acts like this? See how long Trump survives without a fix of TV and newspaper coverage.
34
@Jay
Without a standing press corp trump would fill the room with fox news and any other media / news outlet that would play up to him and join in his game.
The press should not walk out.
By being in the room they have a degree of power, by walking out they give up that power and they might not get back in.
I believe the press should continue to double down and assert their, and the American Voters, rights to honest answers and accountability from this president.
Completely agree that the White House Press Corps take some coordinated action, but what can they possibly do? It would practically be a reward to the WH admin if only a few or even no reporters showed up.
The new Democratic House must take action regarding these appalling actions against the Press, our Fourth Estate.
And they MUST take action to tone down the violent, extreme rhetoric of our politicians, such as the President declaring the Press an Enemy of the People, and berating reporters on live, national TV.
The fact that this type of discourse is even acceptable speaks to why extreme violence such as mass shootings are America's new norm.
Nothing is great about this.
4
Everybody wants to get ahead. Reporters can't be expected to boycott a "press conference". Even an agreement to not raise a new question until the previous reporter says they are through would be nearly impossible. If selected while a previous questioner is being told to shut up, some courageous soul could say, "Maybe you should answer her question before I give you mine". The real questions never get asked:
Why don't you use our military power to stop the Saudis from starving Yemeni children?
Which dimensions of environmental collapse are you most concerned about, given the fact that exponential growth inside a finite system must lead to collapse?
12
To me, what this incident might portend is terrifying.
13
I watched the film of the incident several times to make sure I saw it right. Jim Acosta was allowed to ask multiple questions. Then the president decided his time was up and it was time to let others ask questions, but Acosta refused to surrender the microphone. Then when a young female staffer attempted to take the microphone from him, he knocked her arm down. Acosta's behavior was completely inappropriate. It is ridiculous to suggest that Trump and Sanders will not receive tough questions without Acosta in the room. In addition to his violations of protocol and his physical rebuff of a female staffer, Acosta is constantly making himself part of the story. I fully agree that Sean Hannity should not be employed as a journalist, even an opinion journalist. He is nothing but a hack for Trump. However, Acosta is just as bad in the other direction. Furthermore, Acosta pretends to be a news journalist, not an opinion journalist, making his journalistic sins even worse. Whatever you think of Trump, Acosta does not belong in the White House briefing room.
16
@Charles: evidently neither does trump belong in the White House briefing room... whatever we think of him.
2
Thank you!
@Charles Male or female, you do not just try to take something from another adult. That is assault. She should have learned that in kindergarten along with Trump.
2
"who dared put law and propriety above craven loyalty" ... Please let's not make Sessions the martyr he decidedly is not.
5
@Andy Agreed. Sessions has a long history of racist actions and policies, especially focused on denying black people the right to vote. I hate to say it, but even if a Trump loyalist takes his place, they likely cannot be more destructive of civil rights than Sessions. This is a guaranteed improvement for America.
After the fall of Trump and the end of the GOP , may I live to see the day, Acosta will be a seminal hero of the free Press just as just as John Peter Zenger is. Trump will be our national shame for generations. Hopefully we will deal with this dark time with the bracing honesty that most Germans have dealt with theirs
16
Senator Graham has crossed the line. He no longer cares about democracy or the Constitution. He has allied himself with Trump to hold on to his seat. Former Senator McCain would be appalled!
12
In that venue isn't his job to ask one question and give up the mic to the next reporter? The other reporters seemed to think so-- they all had their hands raised.
7
@ObservantOne
Nope. Watch the whole thing, not only Acosta, and you'll see that he was following the protocol. And they all always have their hands raised. Being patient and quiet does not work in that environment.
Maybe the for profit media should look honestly at it's coverage of the President. Do they have to lead everyday with the story of the "Migrants Invasion?" Do they have to cover everything out of this despicable person's mouth. The simple answer is NO. The honest answer was given by the news president who said it's because of ratings. So maybe you stop writing about him and start writing more stories about the effects of climate change and all the scientific research that supports it or how undemocratic our election system has become or multiple other more relevant stories. Ignore him and he will have vastly less power.
6
Trump continues to have difficulty with the job description of POTUS. Blind loyalty is never a good idea, even in business but DJT seems to demand it of all. The press is under no obligation to kowtow to the president, he has to EARN their respect and has not done so.
6
Our national media bears some responsibility for Trump having been elected in the first place. Except for a few outliers, coverage of the 2016 campaign focused on Hillary’s so-called email transgressions, her health, the bogus Benghazi investigation, and other horse race trivia. It was all about ratings and profits. Trump acted not much differently during the campaign than he does now as POTUS. Yet our media considered “balance” to be more important than fact-checking, and I don’t recall a single instance where the media outright called him a liar. He was forgiven transgressions that would have doomed any other candidate, because circus.
So I think our media now have an urgent, necessary, and existential role to play in taking this president to task. By standing up to this president, the media has a chance to redeem itself and to save our democracy. However they do that, and I don’t know what that will be, they must stand up, report, and resist, or we are doomed.
12
@John Schmacker Be careful you don't buy into the false narrative that "the media" is similar to a political party or a religion. "The media" is comprised of many independent news sources all competing with each other. Do not treat "the media" like a monolith as the GOP narrative wants you to.
The president, Sarah H-Sanders and their other allies demonstrate that they have no internal moral compass. Anything goes if it feeds their ego and total domination.
10
The collective media's fault. Every journalist in the room should have walked out en masse! Actually, that should have been done a long time ago. He doesn't want to act normal, then don't act normal.
5
@HSimon They didn't walk out because they had their hands raised --it was their turn to ask a question. You think maybe they didn't like Acosta hogging the mic and editorializing? Just maybe?
1
@ Dan Locker. Exactly!
1
Watched the press conference live on TV (na ja conference is not the right word for hearing a disgracefully drivelling man who seems to be President of the USA).
Who still wants to be the journalist who has to cover this White House? Brave people, although often too polite to call the lies they must report.
Striking difference is that Sarah Sanders clearly is paid to lie (paid from taxpayers money), whilst the job of the serious journalists in the room is to broadcast the truth.
So: Why don't they all strike for 2 week or so?
And: Live coverage of Trump and Huckabee should be stopped as this cannot be done without previous guidance (+ a strong warning: you are about to hear dangerous lies: cover the ears of your children).
5
@TriasNet Consultants Sarah Sanders lies? Well, I think she's advocating for her boss, nothing wrong with that. Cruise YouTube for press briefings chaired by Josh Earnest and you'll find much the same, though I'd argue Sanders is far better on her feet. Boycott might be an alternative, but in truth the press needs to WH more than the WH needs them, especially in this age of social media. Much like Obama, though much more frequently, Trump spins his own messaging via Twitter. He's got good reason to as well, since everything he does and says is ripped to shreds by this newspaper and many other news "outlefts". Typo intended.
1
Maybe the press could just stop covering this President. We could read edifying stories instead. How about a last-second boycott of his next press conference. He loves crowds - that's a chance to deprive him of one.
6
As a never Trumper, It's easy to simply go along with the anti-Trump rhetoric and sentiment. Trump's press conference was a hot mess but Accosta has taken to the role of simply making noise to hear himself speak. Did he really expect the President to say, "oh you are right, it wasnt an invasion. I just said it to stir up the base". Instead of demanding a seat at WH choreographed event where the President can control the message, who speaks, etc, go do some investigative journalism
7
@Chris "Accosta has taken to the role of simply making noise to hear himself speak." I disagree. Acosta was trying to hold Trump to an answer instead of a brush-off. That IS the role of the Free Press ... if we can keep it.
2
What a mess of an editorial.
First, this does rank high in the list of outrages. The president shouldn't have the power to determine who will cover him. Secondly, this has zero to do with Trump's body-slam remark.
Acosta acted a total fool, but that's between him and his employer. And let's not forget, Trump didn't have to call on him--both sides knew what was coming, kind of like a professional wrestling match. Once again, the president has played the media like a cheap fiddle. He has to be laughing his you-know-what off, seeing how this has developed.
The principle, not the personalities, should be the guiding light, and, again, the president shouldn't have the power to to decide who covers him. Given this, reporters should boycott Trump's press conferences and daily briefings, none of which have shed any useful light, until the decision is rescinded. Trump needs attention like he needs oxygen. No legitimate journalists showing up would help solve this. And then the pundits, including NYT, should examine Acosta's record and conduct in covering this presidency. Acosta has behaved like a donkey's behind, and with no shortage of ego.
It isn't pretty, and no one's hands are clean.
8
@August West Thanks for your "Both sides"-ism. We have freedom of the press protected in the constitution. The President is attempting to curb that freedom. Reporters might be nice or they might be jerks. They still have freedom, or maybe not under God-Emperor Trump?
Should there be any surprise that the president singled out the “enemy of the people’s” White House correspondent for public opprobrium?
Bristling from a public rebuke of his failed tenure, in spite of his (billy goat’s) gruff assertion that Election Night 2018 was a triumph for him, he simply had to lash out at Jim Acosta who was doing nothing more than his job description required.
Even the petty, vindictive, paranoid Richard Nixon shrank from barring White House newspeople from press briefings there.
Methinks Donald Trump is feeling the pinches of (a) voter displeasure and (b) the coming restoration of oversight from Congress, something to which he has yet to be subjected.
4
The press conference was a farce. It showed the US in an appalling light, an appalling light of Trump's own making. It's obvious how leaders like Vladimir Putin and Kim Jong Un can run rings round him, and why world leaders laugh at him. Leader of the free world? Give us a break.
12
The photo and the video of the incident involving Mr. Acosta and the intern clearly shows that Sander’s charges about Mr. Acosta laying a hand on the intern is clearly a false pretext to punish him for doing his job as a journalist with tenacity. The word “trumped up” charges now would have Trump’s face associated with it till eternity; and the posterity would forever think that the phrase came from president Trump’s vengeful behavior. As for Ms. Sanders, she has nerve to blame someone falsely while her own boss and hero has publically and proudly bragged about putting hands under women’s garments and touching them intimately without consent. Whatever credibility and shame Ms. Sanders had left from her verbal gymnastic in service of a liar and lecher has been shredded beyond repair.
16
Acosta did NOT lay his hands on anyone.
The documented truth bears repeating more often than the outright Trump administration lies - otherwise the liars win.
13
Mr. Trump often attacks reporters at these press conferences, silencing them in confrontational and aggressive ways. This time, in addition to Mr. Acosta, it was two African-American women reporters, whom he basically told to sit down and shut up. He also told one of them her question was racist and offensive (it was neither). When this kind of thing happens, I've often wished the next reporter he calls on would insist on an answer to the previous question; if he refuses to answer that one, the next one could take over. I understand that reporters represent their own newspaper or website, and that they have their questions prepared in advance, but at some point it might be in their collective interest to insist on answers to the questions Trump tries to evade. Or would that be considered unprofessional conduct or even journalistic malpractice?
I don't know enough about journalists' professional guidelines, but I do wish Trump could be forced to answer their questions.
256
@Ellen Valle
I like you idea the best: every reporter in turn should repeat the question that elicited a personal attack instead of an answer.
43
Whatever the particulars of this incident with Mr. Acosta, it's clear that Mr. Trump is winning his war against legitimate journalism. He has convinced millions of Americans that fact-based reporting is "fake news." Every day that goes by, more journalists' lives are put at risk with the anger and paranoia that Trump is fomenting.
To every media outlet (except Fox, of course): STOP playing by this dangerous man's rules. You all are smart people. You've got to do something differently. Americans' need for legitimate reporting - and your lives -depend on it.
99
That’s well said. All presidents fight with the press. But that’s the price for living in a free country. Out of all the odious things Trump does, it’s his vicious attacks on the press (Fox excluded) that worries me the most. Journalists should not have to live in fear of their lives in America. That is purely a Trump phenomenon.
10
Trump ran his family business as an Emperor. Now he believes that he was elected as the American Emperor. Beyond criticism. Beyond accountability. All that counts is his loyal base. And the NRA. The Media must continue to perform their constitutional responsibility. A free press will endure long after Trump has become nothing more than a bad nightmare.
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The fact that the White House press corps, after the revocation of Acosta’s credentials, hasn’t banded together to boycott Sarah Sanders’ press briefings and Trump’s news conferences shows that, ultimately, what matters to the reporters’ bosses is one thing only: money.
News organizations aren’t charities, of course, but at some point principles do matter. Or, apparently, not.
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@ALB I agree. I was shocked the press did not either all walk out or stand up and repeat Acoste's question in solidarity with his right to ask it. Some think he was too aggressive but I often want to lob something at the TV when they dont correct his false statistics or quietly accept his ad hominem attacks.
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@ALB If the press corp doesn't show up for the press briefings it leaves only the twisted publications to report what was said and ask only soft questions. Not the answer. What else can they do? Send more reporters, be more aggressive in their questioning. Act like the FREE press and don't back down. That would be a true representation of their principles.
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@ALB - If the press Corp boycotted the White House it would be rewarding Trump's anti-democratic attack on the freedom of the press. Trump would like nothing better then to have all those pesky reporters just go away. He would continue declaiming to his fans via Fox and of course, Fox would heroically not join the boycott. Can you imagine what Trump would do without the eyes of the world trained on him? And yes, the media represent you and me and everyone else who can't hang out in the halls of power to know what the politicians are up to.
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There is no election for a while. We can well survive little news about what the President says. Let Fox News have the field. Would be fascinating to see how the President would react if no journalists reported on him, if "fake news" is replaced by no news about him, except by Fox. And some Fox reporters may join the boycott. The news people at Fox are not as extreme in their unconditional support for the President as commentators like Hannity, Ingraham and others.
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@Ervin Staub: "Would be fascinating to see how the President would react if no journalists reported on him, if "fake news" is replaced by no news about him, except by Fox."
The news networks need Trump to sustain their agenda. Most news about Trump and his administration are negative. So, how would they survive without all that negativity?
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@hm1342
News networks don't have any agenda.
You can't separate criticism from negativity. They are different.
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@Ervin Staub thank you. My thoughts exactly
Absolutely. Let him continue with these antics. People like Acosta show the press for exactly what it is, a biased arrogant angry group that has their own political agenda and feels entitled to unfairly warp the news to fit that agenda.
Trump may be a lot of things, but he knows how to pick the right enemies and knows intuitively how to get them to voluntarily show themselves in the worst light possible.
Everyone wants a free press, but they also want a fair press. The media's knee jerk response to an abusive reporter is expected. What wouldn't be expected would be for the press to clarify what it thinks the lines of behavior are, as it is clear that lecturing the President and refusing to give up the microphone to an aid are apparently within the boundaries of ethical journalism as long as the target is correct.
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@Tom Scharf
The constitution guarantees a free press. It says nothing about a fair press.
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@Tom Scharf Last time I checked the Constitution doesn't require a press that is "Fair to the President" , I guess you mean fair like Fox was to Obama. Well, maybe Trump added this "fairness doctrine" by executive order...or was it by tweet?
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@Occupy Government: "The constitution guarantees a free press. It says nothing about a fair press."
The Constitution also says nothing about a press conference. It's extended as a privilege.
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Yamiche Alcindor, after being dismissed so rudely by Trump at his news conference, was later interviewed on PBS' Newshour by Judy Woodruff. She told Ms. Woodruff that a white nationalist had been invited to the White House and the White House, when asked, was being very secretive. I'd like follow up information on this report.
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@Barb The context for Ms. Alcindor's right and useful question was the presence of Patrick Casey White of Identity Evropa. And yes, the American people should know more about that story.
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@Cynthia
Thank you Cynthia.
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@Barb He accused a black woman of being a racist. These rich white men pretend they're being persecuted by those mean racist black women. Wow. His racist white power base eats this stuff up. I'm sure he will increase turn out in all the racist strongholds of the country. Do you think all the racists stopped being racist just because of the 1960s civil rights movement? They are angry that they lost that fight and they will stick it to non-whites any chance they get. Trump is the first candidate in a long time to be unafraid of showing his racism. It's sad that so many bigots have come out of the woodwork to support him. Oh well, whites will be a minority in 20 years, so goodbye to the GOP.
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Acosta was grandstanding as he's wont to do. If he wants to debate Trump, fine, just do it someplace else other than a press conference. I don't agree that his credentials should be revoked, but part of me thinks that Acosta's not unhappy about it. It certainly got his name out there.
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@Mike75
Please. Are you old enough to have seen Helen Thomas take on Presidents with laser sharp questions of foreign policy? JFK through Obama. One story says that Colin Powell - a gentleman - asked "Isn't there a war somewhere we could send her to?"
Trump wouldn't have lasted 30 seconds -- and if he attacked her she would bite back.
All the members of the press fight for time and attention, some being more dogged than others, and some - Trumps favored ones -throwing softballs. Maybe Acosta did grandstand; so what? It is part of the back and forth.
Trump's vision of himself as king of the world NEVER allowed for anyone else to question him.
Anyway, we know he couldn't answer a detailed policy question because - FOX and friends don't get into details.
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@Mike75 Grandstanding was Hannity at a Trump rally!!!
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Great editorial. Don't let up. Living his whole life at the top of the corporate heap, where he was born, Trump has basically always been a dictator.
It goes with that turf.
He isn't going to change. He says jump - you say, how high? He can only succeed in his destruction of our democracy if people who know better stay silent.
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Acosta was rude to the office of the President of the USA.
Being nice with him will set a president for all Presidents to come.
Like Mr Trump or not, the press should still show decency, tact and manners when addressing the leader of the free world.
There is NO excuse for this boorish behavior.
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@AutumLeaff Americans are way too deferential to "the office of the President." I thought that the American Revolution was fought to rid America of monarchy. And yet, the role of president seems to be moving in that direction.
A person who sets themselves up to lead a country should have the fortitude to deal with the opposition of the news media. Have a look at democracies such as Britain and Australia (just examples). The leaders are seen as people who should have to answer the hard questions.
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@AutumLeaff
Yes, like all those times Obama berated, interrupted, yelled at and demanded they "be quiet" when conservative outlets questioned him. Acosta wasn't asking about anything the President or his mouthpiece haven't said themselves. Apparently asking, repeatedly, for clarification or reasoning behind it is inappropriate to the office. Interesting...seems like Don's and your precendent will be that journalism is redefined as asking only flattering, warm fuzzy questions to those in power...sounds like propaganda to me.
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@AutumLeaff Trump can't handle tough questions because he's always gotten away with anything he's said or done. I am in support of anyone challenging his lies and unAmerican behavior, but would prefer both parties go about this with mutual respect.
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Sorry guys but Jim Acosta has personally turned the press briefings into a circus. He needs to stay above the Presidents lack of civility. Acosta just seems to have such little class. The last straw is his attempt to push back at some intern after the President said “enough”. The intern was just doing her job and Acosta was trying to grand stand like he always does. He needs a vacation. OBTW, most Americans support legal migration. It is illegal migration rushing the border that we don’t agree with.
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@Dan Locker
You're aware that migrants still hundreds of miles from the border, and most of whom will either settle south of the border or properly apply for asylum at a port of entry aren't considered illegal umder US law, right? Fold up your jump to conclusions mat...
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@Dan Locker The issue isn't whether legal/illegal immigration is a threat. What Mr. Acosta was asking about (before he was interrupted) was Mr. Trump's labeling of the group of migrants as "an invasion". That's why Trump threw a fit and shut Acosta down before he could finish the question, because he didn't want to address his demonization of unarmed migrants that are hundreds of miles from the border.
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@Dan Locker They are not rushing the border, they are headed for the port of entry to do it the legal way, otherwise they would not be in a caravan. They would go try to sneak in individually or as a family. And Acosta was polite, gee whiz old tender baby trump could not stand to have to own up that he used the caravan to bait his base into voting Republican. Notice there is no more mention of the caravan storming our border. And you will here no more either, because it was all a big lie to enrage his ignorant base.
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The White House press corps should stand with CNN, this is not a game, this is an attack on all of them. They should boycott the briefings until Acosta gets his credentials back.
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@Herr Fischer
A boycott, while it feels right after such treatment, would not change this president's mind and it would remove the last vestige of a free press from briefings. The press needs to show up to do this crucial job for the American people.
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@BLB
OK then - not a full boycott, but not free publicity for Trump either.
DON'T cover his rallies, DON'T cover any of his PR events, and DON'T allow him to control the media and how they operate in any way.
Believe me - Trump needs them much more than they (or your country) need him.
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@Herr Fischer
I agree with BLB that the press corps should not boycott the briefings/press conferences for the reasons stated. What they should do is be a proxy questioner for Mr Acosta. If the question is answered they could then thank the President and state that they were asking for CNN/ Mr Acosta.
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Lets pretend a Fox News reporter was challenging Mr. Obama and wouldn't sit down, wouldn't hand the mic over and was belligerent. Would the Board find an excuse or stand up for that reporter's freedom of speech? Me thinks it is the former.
Acosta's pass shouldn't be revoked but he has done these type of antics before, where he got called Fake News multiple times by Trump and Acosta wouldn't give up the questioning.
Now he can sit on the sidelines and CNN can figure out what to do with him. Maybe they can put him on with Wolf, who got spotted at the Democratic National Convention dancing to Sweet Caroline. You know, terrible optics for the 'partial' press
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@Scott Wouldn't have it been best if Trump had answered the question?
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@Scott Let's not pretend that Obama delivered the same type of flagrant lying, personal attacks, outright bigotry and deflection that the current occupant does every single time he speaks. The issue here is how to do you hold a powerful person to account for flouting even basic attempts to obtain clarifications on outrageous patently false comments? Is it by abdicating the responsibility to ask a question someone won't like? Is it by printing these falsehoods without having asked or gotten additional information?
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@Scott
Obama never ejected a reporter, no matter how un-deferential the questions were - and they certainly were, when from the right-wing extremist news agencies. No matter how inconvenient. Not once. Nor did he lie and claim an assault happened, when the video clearly shows that a lie.
So - what were you saying again?
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Right on. I shall be waiting for the folks at Fox News to come out denouncing Trump...
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I am very concerned about our democracy under Trump. Trump's actions yesterday are those of a dictator, not a democratically elected president. Yes, I know he lost the popular vote. But we did have an election and this president like all those before him are obligated to protect, defend and support the US Constitution. Trump's loyalty is to himself.
Jim Acosta needs his press pass handed back to him with an apology.
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The office of the President must be respected. Mr. Acosta be and other correspondents covering the White House need to remember this. They are entitled to ask tough questions and disagree with what the President says but they are not running the news conference. When the President asked him to give up the microphone he should have given it to the intern immediately. In my opinion it doesn't matter if there was any physical contact. I think that a suspension of a week would be proper and that Mr. Acosta needs to cool off a little bit.
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@Shmuel Schwartz But Mr. Acosta WASN'T able to ask the question. He was angrily shut down by Trump before he could even finish his sentence (which is why he kept the microphone). Trump doesn't want to answer for his labeling of the caravan as "an invasion", so he shut down a reporter. That warrants no respect, office or otherwise.
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@Shmuel Schwartz President Trump is not worthy of respect. He has done literally nothing that is worthy of respect throughout his entire life. Not in business. Not in his personal life. And most certainly does not reflexively offer respect to others because of their position.
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@Shmuel Schwartz Please define "respect" and "disrespect". Asking a second question is "disrespect"? Do you really believe he is blocked by the White House because he was disrespectful to the president? Last time I checked, that is not what he is blocked for. Unfortunately in the Trump era, "respect" has all but disappeared from the political scene. And people like Acosta are to be blamed. Frankly, between press freedom and access to information at the highest level of government and disrespect to the leader, I'd choose the former any time.
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At the next WH press conference every reporter should remain silent, stand up, turn around and walk out. This behavior from the president needs to be shut down now. How much more can this country take?
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@omedb261 I would go one further. They should stand up and silently turn their backs on whoever it is doing the briefing, ESPECIALLY if it is trump.
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Oh, no, no. That’s just what Trump wants - total control of all “news” coming out of the White House. I agree with the people who think the press should support each other and keep bombarding Trump with those hard questions that he doesn’t want to answer. Isn’t that their job? They need to keep showing how badly Trump is doing his job.
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@omedb261
Two strategies have been suggested, and both are good--the first, to follow up any rejected reporter's turn by re-asking his/her questions, the second the turn away, walk out, or not show up en masse.
The second strategy would be very interesting: bratty children change their behavior much faster when it is not reinforced with attention, positive or negative. Ignoring Trump would drive him completely crazy.
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Unless Trump has been living under a rock most his life (which would actually explain quite a bit), he knows that the President is held to account by the press. If he doesn't like it, he can resign. In hind sight, perhaps he shouldn't have applied for the job in the first place.
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@Lex
Hindsight, foresight, and time to get some oversight.
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"...the danger of confounding loyalty to Donald Trump with loyalty to the Constitution and to democracy..."
I don't think Trump loses any sleep over this.
These "press conferences" ceased long ago to be anything other than WH mouthpieces pumping out propaganda and talking points while not responding to questions. The Trump WH has added the new twist of hurling insults and accusations at the press, but the lack of substance remains.
Why do they persist if not as opportunities for getting answers and information from our government? Easy. The WH gets its propaganda out there, and reporters get their faces and their networks on TV. Everyone wins! Well, almost everyone.
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President Trump's through line is controlling his base and all sources of information that inform his base. Fox News, Sinclair Media and his rallies do that. But the rare press conference where he is front and center is the one arena where his base sees him challenged and where he might be caught blatantly lying or off-balance. He cannot have that. And so Acosta's so-called rudeness is just one more excuse to control the narrative. The job of the mainstream media, which it has not excelled at until perhaps recently, because it too often echoes the narratives Trump chooses, is not allowing him to do that.
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@Bibi: "President Trump's through line is controlling his base and all sources of information that inform his base."
Then why bother having a press conference at all?
"And so Acosta's so-called rudeness is just one more excuse to control the narrative."
Well, Acosta was rude. No other way to interpret it.
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Isn't it time for the White House Press Corps to take some coordinated action? Covering the president is reasonable, even essential, but not every White House journalist has to be at every session. Perhaps 2-3 representatives could go to each presidential performance and each press briefing, then report back to the rest of the group at a conference room. They could take turns. They could attribute statements to each other, and perhaps would have a bit more editorial latitude in interpreting each others' reportage. Perhaps Sarah Sanders would begin to get the message, perhaps even the president would begin to understand.
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@Michael Wolff
To what end? I'm genuinely curious, not being sarcastic. Seems like a concession to Huck and Don, not a stronger stance for WHPC if they don't show...open to accusations of less accurate reporting leading to more claims of "fake news" would be my predicted outcome. Don and Huck already claim things weren't said when they're literally caught on A/V saying them...
@Cody B: They thrive on audience. Reduce the size.
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It is time for OUR free press to take a stand against this abuse of power.
All media - except fox-so-called news, hate radio and other pro-facism media of course - should boycott white house press briefings and covering The Con Don for a week.
Starve his demented, dangerous ego. Give us all a rest.
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@njglea I was about to write something similar. I’d go farther: the entire White House press corps should turn in their credentials and never go back. If unwilling to do that, each one in turn should continue asking any question Trump declines to answer.
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@Kathleen McD
I much prefer your second suggestion. The press corps should not back off but support each other. If Trump refuses to answer a reasonable question the next reporter he allows to speak should repeat that question.
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@njglea
Your suggestion assumes that the media are there to selflessly represent the people by questioning and challenging authority. But they are merely for-profit businesses that benefit from controversy and division, so don't get your hopes up.
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