GOP Rep. Wants CNN Reporter Fired For Being ‘Disrespectful’ To Trump

UNITED STATES - JULY 15: Rep. Randy Weber, R-Texas, participates in a discussion with reporters in Rayburn, titled "Conversations with Conservatives, " at which he and others fielded questions on illegal immigrants a... UNITED STATES - JULY 15: Rep. Randy Weber, R-Texas, participates in a discussion with reporters in Rayburn, titled "Conversations with Conservatives, " at which he and others fielded questions on illegal immigrants attempting to cross the border and other issues, July 15, 2014. (Photo By Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call) (CQ Roll Call via AP Images) MORE LESS
Start your day with TPM.
Sign up for the Morning Memo newsletter

Rep. Randy Weber (R-TX) called for CNN reporter Jim Acosta to be “fired & prohibited” from future press conferences for what he described as Acosta’s “disrespectful” behavior toward Donald Trump on Wednesday.

Weber’s assertion came in the form of a tweet Thursday morning:

After Trump disparaged CNN’s reporting that the U.S. intelligence community presented him with a document outlining allegations about ties between him and Russia, Acosta had asked Trump repeatedly: “Could you give us a chance? You’re attacking our news organization, can you give us a chance to ask a question, sir?”

“Don’t be rude. I’m not going to give you a question,” Trump responded. “You are fake news.”

Weber was not alone in his view of that exchange. Acosta himself reported after Wednesday’s press conference, during which Donald Trump refused to let him ask a question, that incoming White House press secretary Sean Spicer had threatened to kick him out of the presser should he continue to petition Trump.

Afterwards, in an interview with Fox News’ Lou Dobbs, Spicer insisted that he made that threat after the event had ended, and wrote that assertions otherwise were “false.” Spicer also retweeted two Twitter users who suggested Acosta’s credentials be taken away and wrote that Acosta owed Trump “an apology.”

Latest Livewire
Comments
Masthead Masthead
Founder & Editor-in-Chief:
Executive Editor:
Managing Editor:
Associate Editor:
Editor at Large:
General Counsel:
Publisher:
Head of Product:
Director of Technology:
Associate Publisher:
Front End Developer:
Senior Designer: