White House counselor Kellyanne Conway sparred with CNN’s Jim Acosta on Tuesday, calling him a “smart ass” after he questioned whether President Trump would speak truthfully during Tuesday evening’s Oval Office address.
Acosta asked Conway whether Trump would be honest during his prime-time address to the American people on the government shutdown.
“Let me get back in your face because you’re such a smart ass most of the time,” Conway told Acosta. “I know you want this to go viral. A lot of these people don’t like you.”
HEATED EXCHANGE: Kellyanne Conway blasts CNN’s ‘smartass’ Jim Acosta after he asked “can you promise the president will tell the truth tonight?” pic.twitter.com/sYtEPFaa6a
— Breaking911 (@Breaking911) January 8, 2019
Conway then asked whether Acosta himself would tell the truth. “Am I allowed to mention God to you?” Conway asked Acosta during the exchange.
The partial government shutdown is in its third week as the White House and congressional Democrats failed to reach an agreement over funding for a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border.
Trump has demanded $5.7 billion for a barrier along the southern border, a demand Democrats have rejected.
Acosta has had a contentious relationship with the Trump White House, often sparring with the president and top White House officials.
After a confrontation with Trump during a press conference on Nov. 7, during which the president called Acosta “rude,” the White House suspended Acosta’s press credential, a move that prompted CNN and the reporter to sue the White House and top aides.
A federal judge ruled in November that the White House had to immediately restore Acosta’s hard pass for 14 days while court proceedings continued.
The White House then fully restored Acosta’s credential and implemented new rules for reporters during press conferences designed to avoid future battles between the president and the press.
