CNN Slams Trump’s Press Secretary: ‘Just Because Sean Spicer Says Something Doesn’t Make It True’

Network continues to defend reporter Jim Acosta from criticism

| January 16, 2017 @ 8:22 AM
Donald Trump on CNN inauguration livestream

CNN

CNN has released another statement defending network reporter Jim Acosta from criticisms Donald Trump’s press secretary, Sean Spicer, has made since the president-elect’s press conference last week.

Not only did Spicer take to Twitter to demand an apology from Acosta for repeatedly interrupting Trump to ask a question, but he called Acosta’s behavior “inappropriate and disrespectful” while appearing on Fox News’ “MediaBuzz” on Sunday.

“You do not treat the president-elect or any major figure in that way,” Spicer said — but CNN disagrees.

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“As we have learned many times, just because Sean Spicer says something doesn’t make it true,” a CNN spokeswoman told TheWrap. “Jim Acosta is a veteran reporter with the utmost integrity and extensive experience in covering both the White House and the President-elect. Being persistent and asking tough questions is his job, and he has our complete support.”

Trump scolded CNN during his first press conference as president-elect, because he doesn’t like the way the network handled coverage of a controversial Russia dossier that was eventually published by BuzzFeed. Acosta attempted to ask a question, but Trump refused to call on him and called CNN “fake news.”

Since the event, Spicer has appeared on a variety of Sunday morning shows and cable news programs to criticize Acosta’s behavior.

CNN released a statement last week responding to Trump’s allegation that CNN is “fake news” during his first press conference as president-elect.

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“CNN’s decision to publish carefully sourced reporting about the operations of our government is vastly different than BuzzFeed’s decision to publish unsubstantiated memos,” the network said. “The Trump team knows this. They are using BuzzFeed’s decision to deflect from CNN’s reporting, which has been matched by the other major news organizations.”

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