CNN’s Jim Acosta got into a minor scuffle with a young White House staffer during President Trump’s post-election press conference in the East Room of the White House today.
The altercation happened after Acosta questioned the president about his rhetoric regarding the migrant caravan and then persisted in asking follow-up questions after Trump had answered several questions
“Why did you characterize it as such [an invasion]?” Acosta asked, after informing the president that the caravan was not an invasion but rather “a group of migrants moving up from Central America towards the border with the U.S.”
“Because I consider it an invasion. You and I have a difference of opinion,” Trump replied.
“Do you think that you demonized immigrants in this election to try to keep — ?” Acosta pressed.
“Not at all,” Trump interjected. “I want them to come into the country but they have to come in legally. They have to come in, Jim, through a process.”
Acosta continued to press the issue, citing the ad “showing migrants climbing over walls.”
“That’s true,” said Trump. “They weren’t actors.” He added that “they didn’t come from Hollywood.”
While Acosta continued to argue, Trump said, “Honestly, I think you should let me run the country, you run CNN, and if you did it well, your ratings might be much better.”
After Trump repeatedly indicated he was moving on, the White House staffer in charge of passing the mic around jumped up and tried to take the microphone away from him. But Acosta clung to the mic, continued his filibuster, and the frustrated staffer sat down empty-handed.
Here's Jim Acosta pushing away a young woman trying to get the microphone from him. Something really is wrong with this man: pic.twitter.com/o0ZBZrIBTA
— Julie Kelly (@julie_kelly2) November 7, 2018
As Acosta persisted in badgering Trump with questions, the agitated president told him to sit down and walked away from the podium.
When he returned, he angrily scolded Acosta: “CNN should be ashamed of itself having you working for them. You are a rude, terrible person. You shouldn’t be working for CNN. … You’re a very rude person. The way you treat Sarah Huckabee is horrible. You shouldn’t treat people that way.”
Later on, Trump upbraided the entire media for reporting fake news and called them “hostile” and “rude” for constantly interrupting — something they did not do with President Obama.
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