It doesn’t take an Ivy League or Trump University professor to proclaim that President Donald Trump and a significant portion of press have been far from head-over-heels for each other. The non-Fox & Friends crowd aren’t particularly cuddly with Trump and Trump’s rants and accusations about “fake news” are reciprocating the anti-love. The latest chapter in this multi volume saga arrived today in the form of a tweeted retort to the Trump White House’s off camera press briefing approach.
CNN Senior White House Correspondent and frequent Sean Spicer jouster Jim Acosta expressed his frustrations on Twitter about Thursday’s daily press briefing being done with no video or audio broadcast permitted. (Audio was eventually allowed, but no explanation why was given.) This marks the second time in four days that this policy has been enforced. Acosta slammed the practice and its lack of transparency courtesy of a tidy Twitter blast. In Acosta’s view, the White House is disregarding the rights of American citizens as they seek answers on what’s happening with their government.
“Sure we do “pen and pad” gaggles all the time with various officials. This is different. It’s a briefing without the cameras. Why is that?” writes the veteran newsman. “The reason why is that YOUR government doesn’t want YOU to see and hear what they’re doing. In the United States of America.”
I'm off today but it must be said that YOUR White House is taking away YOUR right to see and hear YOUR government answer questions today
— Jim Acosta (@Acosta) June 22, 2017
The WH is holding what is essentially a normal briefing in the briefing room but they aren't allowing cameras to record what's being said. https://t.co/GaOihp44jj
— Jim Acosta (@Acosta) June 22, 2017
Sure we do "pen and pad" gaggles all the time with various officials. This is different. It's a briefing without the cameras. Why is that? https://t.co/N46FgBtVbr
— Jim Acosta (@Acosta) June 22, 2017
The reason why is that YOUR government doesn't want YOU to see and hear what they're doing. In the United States of America. 🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸 https://t.co/34qGRYjXUe
— Jim Acosta (@Acosta) June 22, 2017
The United States of America should respect the freedom of the press. You know that freedom? It's in the constitution of the USA 🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸 https://t.co/QKGB63WoRj
— Jim Acosta (@Acosta) June 22, 2017
What would the GOP say if Hillary Clinton were to shut down the cameras in the briefing room? And the media went along with it? https://t.co/c0gKy03tod
— Jim Acosta (@Acosta) June 22, 2017
The restriction (and Acosta’s rebuke) comes on a day where there’s a lot of demand for answers regarding a number of hot topic issues like the secretive take 2 Trumpcare bill and Trump stating he did not record James Comey after previously threatening to release their talks. As these briefings teeter on becoming a steady trend, members of the media will keep voicing their displeasure to keep exclusively camera-free answers from becoming a way of life.