Sen. Ted Cruz challenged CNN White House correspondent Jim Acosta for a tweet he felt sided with the Communist Party of China rather than the United States.
“Scapegoats blamed by Trump for Coronavirus pandemic: World Health Organization, Members of News Media, Democrats in Congress, Governors, (Not himself),” Acosta tweeted, followed by, “Other scapegoats blamed by Trump: China, Obama administration.”
The Texas Republican tweeted in response, “Why is CNN apologizing for the Communist Party of China? You’re supposed to be journalists, not CCP propagandists.”
Why is CNN apologizing for the Communist Party of China? You’re supposed to be journalists, not CCP propagandists. https://t.co/pJDeJyTHKx
— Ted Cruz (@tedcruz) April 14, 2020
Acosta also tweeted a message related to President Trump’s announcement that the U.S. will be halting funding to the World Health Organization to reassess its effectiveness.
“Trump is accusing the WHO of mishandling the Coronavirus pandemic while avoiding his own failures on the subject,” Acosta wrote, which prompted a back and forth with Cruz.
“Jim, any ‘reporting’ on this is fraudulent without acknowledging the WHO’s blatant schilling for the CCP,” Cruz tweeted along with a link from the WHO’s Twitter account from Jan. 14, stating that Chinese authorities have found “no evidence” of human transmission of the coronavirus.
Jim, any “reporting” on this is fraudulent without acknowledging the WHO’s blatant schilling for the CCP: https://t.co/r5nKcC9FfQ https://t.co/9KtxNiCNay
— Ted Cruz (@tedcruz) April 14, 2020
Acosta responded to that post with a tweet reassuring Cruz that CNN has reported on the WHO’s failings.
“We have reported on the WHO’s failings,” Acosta said, linking to a tweet from Trump complimenting China in late January. “Just as we have reported on the president’s comments about China.”
We have reported on the WHO’s failings. Just as we have reported on the president’s comments about China. https://t.co/GeYClB8OmI https://t.co/Ql5xkyXyrZ
— Jim Acosta (@Acosta) April 14, 2020
“Maybe time for a name change from CNN to Xi NN,” Donald Trump Jr. tweeted. “It’s much more fitting.”
Maybe time for a name change from CNN to Xi NN. It’s much more fitting. https://t.co/vdbEwo8nI5
— Donald Trump Jr. (@DonaldJTrumpJr) April 14, 2020
