One White House staffer metaphorically muzzled CNN reporter Jim Acosta during a photo op in the Oval Office with President Donald Trump and Giuseppe Conte, Italy’s prime minister, on Monday, as multiple outlets reported.
White House aide shouts at Jim @Acosta: "Move, Jim! Let’s go! Keep going Jim. Let’s go. We’re leaving. Come on Jim. Go. We’re done."pic.twitter.com/PZQX92VbON
— Ryan Saavedra ?? (@RealSaavedra) July 30, 2018
“Move, Jim! Let’s go! Keep going, Jim. Let’s go. We’re leaving. Come on, Jim. Go. We’re done,” the unnamed aide shouted more loudly than Acosta — who had continued barking out questions about Rudy Giuliani and “collusion” after the press had been dismissed.
In other words — Acosta’s Kaitlan Collins 2.0 maneuver failed.
Acosta was loud, but the press wrangler was louder.
Collins got more than a talking-to when she carried on asking questions during a similar Oval Office photo-op last week. She was disinvited from a subsequent Rose Garden presser by deputy White House communications director Bill Shine and press secretary Sarah Sanders.
Whether he was attempting to avenge his colleague in some way or was just determined to have his questions answered no matter what, Acosta’s lack of success at it may be a bellwether of a new culture of civility during Oval Office photo ops.
The practice of insistent reporters slipping in some questions and dragging their feet when instructed to leave may be at an end.
.@Acosta and @CNN have gone from reportage to far left protests inside the White House.
They’re making fools of themselves. https://t.co/y9V9ujWtqb
— John Cardillo (@johncardillo) July 30, 2018
Jim Acosta is an EMBARRASSMENT!! https://t.co/xSLuH4HIGj
— JG (@joeygilbertinc) July 31, 2018
Jim Acosta just learned not to mess with Trump or his staff. https://t.co/RJAaW1bKIu
— Conservative Tribune (@conserv_tribune) July 31, 2018
Michele Blood is a Flemington, New Jersey-based freelance writer and a regular contributor to LifeZette.
(photo credit, homepage and article images: Jim Acosta, CC BY-SA 2.0, Cropped Gage Skidmore)
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