During the White House press briefing on Thursday CNN’s Jim Acosta asked Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders about comments the President has made where he repeatedly calls the media “the enemy of the people.”
This isn’t the first time the question has been asked, however, it now appears the official Trump administrations positions is that yes, the enemy of the people is a free press.
The reason for the question on Thursday, was as a result of Acosta pointing out the people who were in attendance at President Trump’s rally on Tuesday night in Tampa, Florida.
The media is placed during events in what is called a “bull pin,” it’s a place that is typically located at the center of the room, giving the media access to the event. Below in the clip we see the media getting yelled at, a man is wearing a “Fuck the media,” t-shirt…etc. etc. etc.
Just a sample of the sad scene we faced at the Trump rally in Tampa. I’m very worried that the hostility whipped up by Trump and some in conservative media will result in somebody getting hurt. We should not treat our fellow Americans this way. The press is not the enemy. pic.twitter.com/IhSRw5Ui3R
— Jim Acosta (@Acosta) August 1, 2018
This tweet sparked “outrage” from Conservative media individuals such as Sean Hannity
Jimmy @Acosta sorry your precious feelings are hurt & that people see through your lying bullshit for what it is. FAKE NEWS. #CNNSUCKS
— Sean Hannity (@seanhannity) August 2, 2018
CNN's Jim Acosta asks Sarah Sanders about Trump's comments that the media is the "enemy of the people": "You did not say … that the press is not the enemy of people" pic.twitter.com/H3TJCFwiON
— Axios (@axios) August 2, 2018
Asked several times by Acosta if Sanders would say, “right here,” that the press is not the enemy of people, she responded by stating, “the president has made his position clear. I also think it’s ironic,” there is another tense exchange before she proceeds to blame the media for “lowering the level of conversation in this country,” she adds that repeatedly the media resorts to personal attacks, herself having been the victim, she lists several slights against her in her opinion. Acosta says he is sorry she had to go through that, however, can she say the press is not the enemy of the people. She did not answer the question, she repeated that “I speak on behalf of the President and he’s made his position clear.”
In the exchange Acosta mentions Ivanka Trump, the President’s daughter, and Presidential Adviser, who was asked her thoughts as to whether or not the media is the enemy of the people, she answered, “No, I do not,” Ivanka Trump does point out that she’s suffered inaccurate stories, but states, “but no I do not feel the media is the enemy of the people.”
Ivanka Trump: "I do not feel the media is the enemy of the people." https://t.co/2IU9rN7rcv pic.twitter.com/0R8JEN5ETW
— CBS News (@CBSNews) August 2, 2018
After the exchange with Sanders, Acosta appeared on CNN, and explains in part, that it now appears, that everyone in this White House up to and including the President, believe, the press is the enemy of the people.” The host Brooke Baldwin does mention Ivanka Trump’s comments, and Acosta agrees, he also adds that he is “tired of this. It’s not right to call the press the enemy of the people.” He ended by saying, “maybe we should take to marching and chanting, like those who chant “CNN sucks,” we should chant, “we are not the enemy of the people.”
After his appearance on CNN Acosta tweeted
I walked out of the end of that briefing because I am totally saddened by what just happened. Sarah Sanders was repeatedly given a chance to say the press is not the enemy and she wouldn't do it. Shameful.
— Jim Acosta (@Acosta) August 2, 2018
As a reminder the President is expected to hold two more rallies in the coming days…Thursday night he will be in PA, on Saturday he will be in Ohio.
Update
President Trump responded to Ivanka Trump’s interview and her comments regarding the media via Twitter
They asked my daughter Ivanka whether or not the media is the enemy of the people. She correctly said no. It is the FAKE NEWS, which is a large percentage of the media, that is the enemy of the people!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 2, 2018
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