The White House Press Secretary has just issued a statement in response to the court temporarily giving Jim Acosta back his White House press pass:
“Today, the court made clear that there is no absolute First Amendment right to access the White House. In response to the court, we will temporarily reinstate the reporter’s hard pass. We will also further develop rules and processes to ensure fair and orderly press conferences in the future. There must be decorum at the White House.”
It’s true. The judge today based his ruling on the due process argument, not the first amendment argument.
I think it’s kinda ridiculous that we are here now after the stunt Acosta pulled in the presidential White House press conference. Now he will just be emboldened by this temporary reinstatement when he shouldn’t even be in the White House.
I don’t expect Sanders to call on Acosta anytime soon, however, but they could surprise me. If they don’t call on him, CNN will probably put up a running ticker called “Days Acosta hasn’t been called on in the White House” or something to keep this going.
Maybe if they call on him now, he’ll act like an ass again and they can pull his pass again.
UPDATE:
Trump just gave a mini-press conference in the Oval Office where he discussed the court ruling today. I’m waiting on a better clip, but so far this is what I have:
WATCH NOW: President Trump speaks after signing cybersecurity bill, calls for "decorum" following judge decision in favor of CNN's Jim Acosta. https://t.co/gPVHkAF3Y2 pic.twitter.com/WXw5mopWh6
— CBS News (@CBSNews) November 16, 2018
"We want total freedom of the press, that's very important to me. It's more important to me than anybody would believe. But you have to act with respect. You're in the White House," Trump says pic.twitter.com/XdpWUjJfVT
— TicToc by Bloomberg (@tictoc) November 16, 2018
Here’s a longer clip:
NEW: "People have to behave," Pres. Trump says on Acosta ruling. "We're writing up rules and regulations...If they don't listen to the rules and regulations, we'll end up back in court and we'll win. But more importantly, we'll just leave, and then you won't be very happy." pic.twitter.com/cIYuiPAklA
— ABC News (@ABC) November 16, 2018