Twitter users had a message for CNN’s White House reporter Jim Acosta on Wednesday: Stop complaining and go back to work.
Acosta has complained for days now about the White House decision not to televise many of the daily briefings with reporters.
He said Wednesday that the video of the daily briefing has been “banned by the USA” and said the White House’s “near-total refusal to take briefing q’s from CNN is becoming common practice.”
But instead of sympathizing, many on Twitter said enough was enough and that Acosta should just move on to reporting the news and stop reporting on his personal battle with the White House.
A sample of how reporters, commentators and others have reacted:
yes, yes the freedom to be televised daily from the white house is the most precious of our freedoms https://t.co/DqC0hsk44v
— T. Becket Adams (@BecketAdams) June 28, 2017
Someone snuck a camera into the WH press briefing and caught a close up of Jim Acosta… pic.twitter.com/l0ho6mi9hd
— Josh (@JoshNoneYaBiz) June 28, 2017
You’re like a Tiananmen Square hero standing bravely against the tank of an oppressive govt ban of grandstanding on camera in makeup.
— Razor (@hale_razor) June 28, 2017
Acosta has spent months rolling on the floor, holding his knee, and demanding a whistle. There ain’t no refs, Jim.
— jon gabriel (@exjon) June 29, 2017
The Daily Caller reported that Acosta’s battle with the White House has turned him into a kitten “chasing the red laser pointer.”
In response to an Acosta report that keeping the briefings off camera is an “erosion of our freedoms in terms of covering the president,” the snarky White House Press Corps Twitter account advised him to “try some old fashioned shoe leather reporting, @Acosta.”
Try some old fashioned shoe leather reporting, @Acosta https://t.co/WlSXxolfI7
— WhiteHousePressCorps (@whpresscorps) June 28, 2017
Others accused him of exaggerating his problems with the White House.
.@Acosta – “Wow, only two walnuts in my chopped kale salad today. Folks we are witnessing the decline of civilization right before our eyes”
— Comfortably Smug (@ComfortablySmug) June 28, 2017
A simple Twitter search of the word “Acosta” brought up dozens of tweets, most of which criticized him for complaining about the White House’s camera policy. Just a few defended him:
The President does damage to himself & his family all by himself. Jim Acosta is an professional Journalist who conducts himself correctly.
— CookieLittle (@N2glass) June 29, 2017
Why are you (news media) not turning on the cameras? What will the White do to you all? Seriously, someone turn on a damn camera.
— tray429 (@trayphin) June 29, 2017
