According to a report from the Washington Post, el Trumpo wanted to ban many more reporters.
From the Hill:
President Trump has reportedly spoken to White House officials on numerous occasions in recent months about banning reporters from White House press briefings.
The Washington Post reported Friday that Trump, angered by what he believes to be disrespectful behavior from journalists toward his administration, has spoken to aides about blacklisting CNN’s Jim Acosta and American Urban Radio Networks reporter April Ryan, who is also a CNN contributor.
White House aides had reportedly resisted Trump’s requests until Bill Shine, Trump’s new deputy chief of staff, and White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders barred CNN’s Kaitlan Collins from a press event Wednesday.
According to the Post, officials feared it would damage the president’s already fraught relationship with the press.
This is not surprising at all. Frankly, I thought he would have taken way more steps against the media than he has already by now. But it also upends people defending Trump who say they didn’t actually “ban” Kaitlan Collins. On the other hand, this is an anonymously sourced report… either way, #MAGA!!!
Also, I’d expect more of this going forth – this likely happened because they hired on Bill Shine from Fox News, who many say is more of a yes man.