CNN | Politics

Jim Acosta Is Not Permitted to Enter White House Grounds ‘Until Further Notice’

By A.J. Katz 

What transpired between Jim Acosta and President Trump during today’s 87-minute press briefing was apparently the tipping point for the Trump administration because they have officially banned CNN’s chief White House correspondent from entering the White House grounds.

Ten minutes earlier, Acosta tweeted:

We reached out to CNN for comment on the measure taken by the White House, and were directed to the following statement:

Why this move tonight?

White House press secretary Sarah Sanders says “the reporter” (Acosta) has been banned in part because of “placing his hands on a young woman just trying to do her job as a White House intern.”

At one point during the contentious back and forth between Acosta and Trump, an intern came towards Acosta. It appeared that she tried to grab the mic from him. Acosta struggled to keep it, and she moved away. The woman returned seconds later and he released the mic, which she then gave to NBC’s Peter Alexander.

The aforementioned NBC Newser defended Acosta before asking his own question, telling the president, “In Jim’s defense, I’ve traveled with him and he’s a very diligent reporter who busts his butt like the rest of us.”

CNN had made a public statement made after the press conference was over:

This President’s ongoing attacks on the press have gone too far. They are not only dangerous, they are disturbingly un-American. While President Trump has made it clear he does not respect a free press, he has a sworn obligation to protect it. A free press is vital to democracy, and we stand behind Jim Acosta and his fellow journalists everywhere.

Sanders addressed that as well:

Sanders continued:

A number of journalists are supporting Acosta:

As well as the WHCA:

Advertisement