White House Press Secretary Fact-Checks CNN's Acosta: 'This is False, Jim'
CNN’s Jim Acosta received a Twittersphere rap across the knuckles Thursday from White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany, who suggested Acosta get his facts straight.
Acosta tweeted an allegation that President Donald Trump originally supported Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp’s decision to reopen businesses in his state but was talked out of that position.
“News: Members of the coronavirus task force had to convince Trump to change his view on Georgia governor Brian Kemp’s decision to reopen businesses in his state later this week, a source close to the task force tells CNN,” Acosta tweeted.
That brought a response from McEnany, who said the report was more fake news.
“This is false, Jim. No one ‘changed’ President Trump’s view. I was with him all throughout the day. His mind was made up. His priority has always been to reopen the country SAFELY,” she tweeted.
McEnany had one more dig to share.
“Next time consider checking with the White House Press Office before ‘reporting’ inaccurate info,” she tweeted.
This is false, Jim.
No one “changed” President Trump’s view. I was with him all throughout the day. His mind was made up. His priority has always been to reopen the country SAFELY.
Next time consider checking with the White House Press Office before “reporting” inaccurate info. https://t.co/RznAaLqb3q
— Kayleigh McEnany (@PressSec) April 23, 2020
On Friday, during the White House coronavirus task force briefing, Trump made clear his feelings about both Kemp and CNN.
The president skewered the network in a segment of the briefing during which he was asked about North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. After replying that he hoped the leader was in good health, Trump added, speaking of the news report that said Kim was ill, “I think it was a fake report.” After a brief pause, he added, “done by CNN.”
CNN’s Kaitlan Collins then tried to ask a follow-up question, but the president would not allow it.
“The problem is you don’t write the truth. So you know, as far as I’m concerned, I want to go to the next person,” Trump said.
Collins continued trying to speak, but Trump cut her off.
“I told you, CNN is fake news. Don’t talk to me,” he said.
Later in the briefing, the president clarified his position on Kemp’s decision to reopen Georgia.
“I didn’t like the fact that he’s leaving certain things — I want the states to open more than he does, much more than he does. But I didn’t like to see spas at this early stage, nor did the doctors. Is that a correct statement, Deborah?” Trump said, referring to Dr. Deborah Birx, the response coordinator of the White House coronavirus task force.
“I didn’t like to see spas opening, frankly,” he continued. “I didn’t like to see a lot of things happening and I wasn’t happy with it. And I wasn’t happy with Brian Kemp. I wasn’t at all happy. I could have done something about it if I wanted to, but I’m saying let the governors do it. But I wasn’t happy with Brian Kemp. Spas, beauty parlors, tattoo parlors.
“I want them to open, and I want them to open as soon as possible. I want the state to open, but I wasn’t happy with Brian Kemp. I will tell you that right now.”
Trump was then asked by ABC News’ Jonathan Karl how Trump felt about Kemp defying him.
“No, he didn’t defy me at all. That’s your language,” the president said. “He didn’t defy me. You know what happened? I said, ‘You make your own decision.’ I told him that. I said, ‘You’re not in the guidelines, but I’m letting you make your own decision. But I want people to be safe, and I want the people in Georgia to be safe, and I don’t want this thing to flare up because you’re deciding to do something that is not in the guidelines.’
“And I went to Deborah and Dr. [Anthony] Fauci and other people, and they weren’t thrilled about it. I could have stopped him, but I decided, and we all agreed, they got to watch it closely. So we’ll see what happens. I told him very distinctly … I said, ‘You do what you think is best.’
“But if you ask me am I happy about it, I’m not happy about it.”
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