CNN White House correspondent Jim Acosta yelled after White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders as she departed from a press conference on Monday, inquiring about a controversial speech by President Donald Trump last week.
Huckabee Sanders briefed the White House press corps on camera on Monday, fielding questions on issues including the same-day departure of White House communications director Anthony Scaramucci.
As Huckabee Sanders left the briefing podium, Acosta was one of a gaggle of voices to call after her, although his question took on an editorial turn.
"Why was the president joking about police bruality?" Acosta yelled.
"Why would the president joke about police brutality? That's not a joking matter," he said.
Tried to ask why POTUS was joking about police brutality. SHS did not answer the question
— Jim Acosta (@Acosta) July 31, 2017
Acosta was referring to a speech that Trump gave last Friday, when the president seemed to encourage police officers to manhandle arrested suspects.
"When you guys put somebody in the car and you're protecting their head, you know, the way you put their hand over?" Trump said. "Like, don't hit their head, and they just killed somebody — don't hit their head, I said, you can take the hand away, OK?"
The comments earned swift condemnation from many people, including police leaders.
Acosta is known for his sometimes adversarial relationship with the White House, especially former press secretary Sean Spicer, and his criticism of Trump.