President Trump took aim at CNN during a press conference saying the country would be “far greater” without them.
“If the press were straight and honest and forthright and tough, we would be a far greater nation,” Trump said Wednesday.
CNN chief White House correspondent Jim Acosta responded to the president’s assertion, saying, “We are.”
Trump then added to his original comment that, “We would be a far greater one if we didn’t have the CNNs of the world who are corrupt people.” The president then walked out of the press conference without addressing the media any further.
Acosta was not the only reporter Trump sparred with during the press conference. The president tore into Reuters White House correspondent Jeff Mason after the reporter asked a clarifying question
“Are you talking to me?” Trump said before the reporter said he only wanted to ask a follow-up question. The president demanded he ask a question of Finnish President Sauli Niinistö, but Mason said he only had a question for Trump.
The president then chastised him further, saying, “Did you hear me? Did you hear me? Ask him a question. I’ve given you a long answer. Ask this gentleman a question. Don’t be rude.”
Trump then continued into signature lines about how much of the media is “fake” and “corrupt.”
The press conference comes as the president is embroiled in a fight with House Democrats over an impeachment inquiry into whether he offered Ukraine a quid pro quo agreement to investigate former Vice President Joe Biden in exchange for military aid.
