To donate by check, phone, or other method, see our More Ways to Give page.
U.S. President Donald Trump gets into an exchange with CNN reporter Jim Acosta during a news conference a day after the midterm elections on November 7, 2018 in the East Room of the White House in Washington, DC. Republicans kept the Senate majority but lost control of the House to the Democrats. (Photo: Al Drago - Pool/Getty Images)
Just hours after President Donald Trump called CNN political reporter Jim Acosta a "rude, terrible person" during a post-midterm press conference, the White House suspended the journalist's credentials on Wednesday night - a move that prompted outrage from the cable network and press freedom advocates called a "clear attack on the First Amendment."
\u201cThe US Secret Service just asked for my credential to enter the WH. As I told the officer, I don\u2019t blame him. I know he\u2019s just doing his job. (Sorry this video is not rightside up)\u201d— Jim Acosta (@Jim Acosta) 1541638339
As CNNreports:
White House press secretary Sarah Sanders announced in a statement that Acosta would be stripped of what's known as a "hard pass," which gives him access to the White House grounds.
Around the same time, Acosta was stopped at the White House's Pennsylvania Avenue gate where reporters usually enter. He was heading back to the White House for a live shot on "Anderson Cooper 360."
The White House Corespondents Association, which advocates on behalf of the press corps, issued the following statement in response:
\u201cWHCA statement on White House decision on credentials.\u201d— WHCA (@WHCA) 1541644013
In a statement by the network, CNN said: "This unprecedented decision is a threat to our democracy and the country deserves better. Jim Acosta has our full support."
When Sanders later tweeted a statement saying Trump "believes in a free press and expects and welcomes tough questions of him and his Administration" and that the suspension was due to the reporter's "putting his hands on" an White House press intern, Acosta simply responded: "This is a lie."
Meanwhile, critics of the move--including fellow journalists--unleashed on the White House online:
\u201cTrump moves further toward authoritarianism:\n1) Fires Sessions & names a lackey as Acting AG, \n2) Threatens war with Congress if it begins legitimate investigations into presidential wrongdoing.\n3) Bars a respected journalist, Acosta, from the White House\nhttps://t.co/p5jtz4Vghn\u201d— Steven Greenhouse (@Steven Greenhouse) 1541641877
\u201cThis is a further attack not only on our constitution but on the 1st amendment, Democracy But further attacks on the Latinx people!! We must unite against his racism! His attacks on Latin immigrants, Mexicans and Puerto Rico #1stAmendment #FreedomOfThePress @Acosta\u201d— John Leguizamo (@John Leguizamo) 1541638212
\u201cPEN America is suing President Trump for banning certain journalists from covering the White House and threatening to revoke credentials; now he has gone a step further by revoking the press pass of @CNN's @Acosta, in a clear attack on the First Amendment. https://t.co/BdIjmQ63cD\u201d— PEN America (@PEN America) 1541643111
\u201c"Jim Acosta" Just had his press pass ripped up. This is a blatant attempt to shut down the FREE PRESS @PressSec LIED and said @JimAcosta "touched" an intern clearly said intern was GRABBING at Acosta's mic. https://t.co/NGPJhCJpOU #FreedomOfThePress #JimAcosta\u201d— Randi Rhodes (@Randi Rhodes) 1541643621
\u201cI don\u2019t care if you think the press corps sucks, if you think Acosta is a preening self-promoter. This isn\u2019t a \u201cdistraction,\u201d it\u2019s an abuse of power and anyone in media who scolds those who give a shit should consider a different line of work.\u201d— Liliana Segura (@Liliana Segura) 1541641254
Common Dreams is powered by optimists who believe in the power of informed and engaged citizens to ignite and enact change to make the world a better place. We're hundreds of thousands strong, but every single supporter makes the difference. Your contribution supports this bold media model—free, independent, and dedicated to reporting the facts every day. Stand with us in the fight for economic equality, social justice, human rights, and a more sustainable future. As a people-powered nonprofit news outlet, we cover the issues the corporate media never will. |
Just hours after President Donald Trump called CNN political reporter Jim Acosta a "rude, terrible person" during a post-midterm press conference, the White House suspended the journalist's credentials on Wednesday night - a move that prompted outrage from the cable network and press freedom advocates called a "clear attack on the First Amendment."
\u201cThe US Secret Service just asked for my credential to enter the WH. As I told the officer, I don\u2019t blame him. I know he\u2019s just doing his job. (Sorry this video is not rightside up)\u201d— Jim Acosta (@Jim Acosta) 1541638339
As CNNreports:
White House press secretary Sarah Sanders announced in a statement that Acosta would be stripped of what's known as a "hard pass," which gives him access to the White House grounds.
Around the same time, Acosta was stopped at the White House's Pennsylvania Avenue gate where reporters usually enter. He was heading back to the White House for a live shot on "Anderson Cooper 360."
The White House Corespondents Association, which advocates on behalf of the press corps, issued the following statement in response:
\u201cWHCA statement on White House decision on credentials.\u201d— WHCA (@WHCA) 1541644013
In a statement by the network, CNN said: "This unprecedented decision is a threat to our democracy and the country deserves better. Jim Acosta has our full support."
When Sanders later tweeted a statement saying Trump "believes in a free press and expects and welcomes tough questions of him and his Administration" and that the suspension was due to the reporter's "putting his hands on" an White House press intern, Acosta simply responded: "This is a lie."
Meanwhile, critics of the move--including fellow journalists--unleashed on the White House online:
\u201cTrump moves further toward authoritarianism:\n1) Fires Sessions & names a lackey as Acting AG, \n2) Threatens war with Congress if it begins legitimate investigations into presidential wrongdoing.\n3) Bars a respected journalist, Acosta, from the White House\nhttps://t.co/p5jtz4Vghn\u201d— Steven Greenhouse (@Steven Greenhouse) 1541641877
\u201cThis is a further attack not only on our constitution but on the 1st amendment, Democracy But further attacks on the Latinx people!! We must unite against his racism! His attacks on Latin immigrants, Mexicans and Puerto Rico #1stAmendment #FreedomOfThePress @Acosta\u201d— John Leguizamo (@John Leguizamo) 1541638212
\u201cPEN America is suing President Trump for banning certain journalists from covering the White House and threatening to revoke credentials; now he has gone a step further by revoking the press pass of @CNN's @Acosta, in a clear attack on the First Amendment. https://t.co/BdIjmQ63cD\u201d— PEN America (@PEN America) 1541643111
\u201c"Jim Acosta" Just had his press pass ripped up. This is a blatant attempt to shut down the FREE PRESS @PressSec LIED and said @JimAcosta "touched" an intern clearly said intern was GRABBING at Acosta's mic. https://t.co/NGPJhCJpOU #FreedomOfThePress #JimAcosta\u201d— Randi Rhodes (@Randi Rhodes) 1541643621
\u201cI don\u2019t care if you think the press corps sucks, if you think Acosta is a preening self-promoter. This isn\u2019t a \u201cdistraction,\u201d it\u2019s an abuse of power and anyone in media who scolds those who give a shit should consider a different line of work.\u201d— Liliana Segura (@Liliana Segura) 1541641254
Just hours after President Donald Trump called CNN political reporter Jim Acosta a "rude, terrible person" during a post-midterm press conference, the White House suspended the journalist's credentials on Wednesday night - a move that prompted outrage from the cable network and press freedom advocates called a "clear attack on the First Amendment."
\u201cThe US Secret Service just asked for my credential to enter the WH. As I told the officer, I don\u2019t blame him. I know he\u2019s just doing his job. (Sorry this video is not rightside up)\u201d— Jim Acosta (@Jim Acosta) 1541638339
As CNNreports:
White House press secretary Sarah Sanders announced in a statement that Acosta would be stripped of what's known as a "hard pass," which gives him access to the White House grounds.
Around the same time, Acosta was stopped at the White House's Pennsylvania Avenue gate where reporters usually enter. He was heading back to the White House for a live shot on "Anderson Cooper 360."
The White House Corespondents Association, which advocates on behalf of the press corps, issued the following statement in response:
\u201cWHCA statement on White House decision on credentials.\u201d— WHCA (@WHCA) 1541644013
In a statement by the network, CNN said: "This unprecedented decision is a threat to our democracy and the country deserves better. Jim Acosta has our full support."
When Sanders later tweeted a statement saying Trump "believes in a free press and expects and welcomes tough questions of him and his Administration" and that the suspension was due to the reporter's "putting his hands on" an White House press intern, Acosta simply responded: "This is a lie."
Meanwhile, critics of the move--including fellow journalists--unleashed on the White House online:
\u201cTrump moves further toward authoritarianism:\n1) Fires Sessions & names a lackey as Acting AG, \n2) Threatens war with Congress if it begins legitimate investigations into presidential wrongdoing.\n3) Bars a respected journalist, Acosta, from the White House\nhttps://t.co/p5jtz4Vghn\u201d— Steven Greenhouse (@Steven Greenhouse) 1541641877
\u201cThis is a further attack not only on our constitution but on the 1st amendment, Democracy But further attacks on the Latinx people!! We must unite against his racism! His attacks on Latin immigrants, Mexicans and Puerto Rico #1stAmendment #FreedomOfThePress @Acosta\u201d— John Leguizamo (@John Leguizamo) 1541638212
\u201cPEN America is suing President Trump for banning certain journalists from covering the White House and threatening to revoke credentials; now he has gone a step further by revoking the press pass of @CNN's @Acosta, in a clear attack on the First Amendment. https://t.co/BdIjmQ63cD\u201d— PEN America (@PEN America) 1541643111
\u201c"Jim Acosta" Just had his press pass ripped up. This is a blatant attempt to shut down the FREE PRESS @PressSec LIED and said @JimAcosta "touched" an intern clearly said intern was GRABBING at Acosta's mic. https://t.co/NGPJhCJpOU #FreedomOfThePress #JimAcosta\u201d— Randi Rhodes (@Randi Rhodes) 1541643621
\u201cI don\u2019t care if you think the press corps sucks, if you think Acosta is a preening self-promoter. This isn\u2019t a \u201cdistraction,\u201d it\u2019s an abuse of power and anyone in media who scolds those who give a shit should consider a different line of work.\u201d— Liliana Segura (@Liliana Segura) 1541641254