ADVERTISEMENT

Trump Refuses to Take Question From Jim Acosta: 'CNN Is Fake News; I Don't Take Questions From CNN'

July 13, 2018

President Donald Trump refused to take a question from CNN White House correspondent Jim Acosta during a joint press conference with British Prime Minister Theresa May on Friday, saying that he does not take questions from CNN and that the network is "fake news."

Trump took multiple questions from reporters during the press conference in Chequers, U.K., ranging from his upcoming summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Helsinki on Monday to his recent interview with The Sun, in which he criticized May and questioned the possibility of a U.S.-U.K. trade deal.

After Trump finished an answer, reporters in the audience raised their hands to ask another question, including Acosta, who interjected to ask a question since Trump criticized CNN. Acosta several times asked if he could pose a question, but Trump instead called on Fox News White House correspondent John Roberts.

Trump then addressed Acosta directly after he continued to try to ask a question.

"CNN is fake news. I don't take questions from CNN. John Roberts of Fox. Let's go to a real network," Trump said, shutting down Acosta.

This is not the first time that Acosta, who has garnered attention for frequently interrupting and clashing with Trump administration officials, has been passed over during a press conference. Back in March, Acosta noted on Twitter that White House press secretary Sara Huckabee Sanders had not called on CNN for three press briefings in a row, including the hashtag "#courage."

"Courage isn't taking 'a question from CNN,' Jim. Courage is combat veterans Sgt. Peck and Staff Sgt. Dwyer - the two heroes at the briefing. #itsnotaboutyou," Sanders fired back on Twitter.

Trump has personally gone after Acosta several times, calling him "fake news." While Acosta admitted that he sometimes feels "uncomfortable" while reporting, he said that he is going to continue doing his "damn job."