Incident Details
- Date of Incident
- January 16, 2018
- Location
- Washington, District of Columbia
- Targets
- Jim Acosta (CNN)
- Government agency or public official involved
- Type of denial
- Other
Denial of Access
White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer waits for CNN correspondent Jim Acosta to finish speaking on camera before he starts the daily press briefing at the White House, on March 9, 2017.
CNN chief White House Correspondent Jim Acosta said that White House aides shouted at him as he tried to ask questions of President Trump in the Oval Office on Jan. 16, 2018.
Acosta, along with other members of the press, covered a meeting at the White House between Trump and President Nursultan Nazarbayev of Kazakhstan. During the meeting, Acosta asked Trump, “Did you say you want more people to come into the country from Norway, Mr. President?”
Trump responded, “I want them to come in from everywhere … everywhere. Thank you very much, everybody.”
Acosta later tweeted that White House aides shouted in his face and drowned him out as he continued to ask the president questions.
At a photo opportunity in the Oval Office, Acosta again asked Trump if he preferred that only white immigrants come to the United States.
In response, Acosta said, Trump pointed at him and told him, “Out.”
On Jan. 17, Acosta participated in a panel discussion on press freedom at the Newseum in Washington, D.C. During the panel discussion, Acosta said that he considers being kicked out of the Oval Office for asking the president if he was a racist to be a badge of honor.
Acosta is an outspoken critic of the Trump administration, and particularly its treatment of the press. Trump frequently criticizes Acosta on Twitter, often labeling both him and CNN as "fake news."
In Oval Office pool spray, I asked why Trump wants more people to come in from Norway. He said he wants people to come in from everywhere. Verbatim coming.
— Jim Acosta (@Acosta) January 16, 2018
As I attempted to ask questions in Roosevelt Room of Trump, WH press aides shouted in my face to drown out my questions. I have never encountered that before.
— Jim Acosta (@Acosta) January 16, 2018
When I tried to follow up on this in the Oval Office, Trump told me to get "out." We then went to the Roosevelt Room where WH aides obstructed us from asking questions. https://t.co/vuEIv1jvso
— Jim Acosta (@Acosta) January 16, 2018
CNN’s @Acosta was kicked out of the Oval Office for asking the president if he was a racist - “and I consider that a badge of honor” #USPressFreedom
— Newseum (@Newseum) January 18, 2018
The U.S. Press Freedom Tracker catalogues press freedom violations in the United States. Email tips to [email protected].
