Thumbs down: The president and the reporter

There’s nothing novel about Jim Acosta of CNN. Sure, he can be a bit of a showboat. But his job is to ask questions, tough questions, direct questions, in the tradition of Sam Donaldson of ABC News, Helen Thomas of United Press International and many other White House correspondents.|
THE EDITORIAL BOARD
BY THE EDITORIAL BOARD

There's nothing novel about Jim Acosta of CNN. Sure, he can be a bit of a showboat. But his job is to ask questions, tough questions, direct questions, in the tradition of Sam Donaldson of ABC News, Helen Thomas of United Press International and many other White House correspondents. Of course, President Donald Trump excels at theatrics, too. He's also remarkably thin-skinned.

And maybe a bit forgetful. After banning reporters from the Washington Post, Politico and about a dozen other news organizations from his campaign rallies in 2016, Trump assured CNN that no such thing would occur if he were elected. “When I'm representing the United States,” he said, “I wouldn't do that.” But he did, revoking Acosta's White House pass last week.

The White House justified the move with a doctored video produced by InfoWars, which is best known for spreading conspiracy theories. Even Fox News objected. CNN is suing, but it shouldn't take a court ruling for the White House to recognize that it doesn't get to choose who news organizations assign to cover the president. Thumbs down.

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