President Trump said Friday that he’ll toss out CNN reporter Jim Acosta or stop a press conference if he or another journalist “misbehaves.”
In an interview with Chris Wallace of Fox News, Mr. Trump said it was “not a big deal” that a Trump-appointed federal judge ordered the White House to return Mr. Acosta’s press badge and allow him access to the grounds.
“We have to create rules and regulations for conduct, etc., etc.,” Mr. Trump said. “We’re doing that; we’re going to write them up right now. It’s not a big deal and, if he misbehaves we’ll throw him out or we’ll stop the news conference.”
The White House suspended Mr. Acosta’s credentials after he refused to give up a microphone during a news conference and persisted asking the president questions when Mr. Trump had called on another journalist.
Mr. Wallace asked the president what the new rules of decorum will be at White House press conferences.
“You know, you can’t keep asking questions,” Mr. Trump said. “We had a lot of reporters in that room, many many reporters in that room and they were unable to ask questions because this guy gets up and starts, you know, doing what he’s supposed to be doing for him and for CNN and just shouting out questions and making statements too.”
The president added, “Nobody believes in the First Amendment more than I do and if I think somebody is acting out of sorts I will leave. I will say, ‘Thank you very much everybody I appreciate you coming and I’ll leave.”
He predicted, “Those reporters will not be too friendly to whoever it is that’s acting up.”
The president’s interview will air in full on Fox News Sunday.
• Dave Boyer can be reached at dboyer@washingtontimes.com.
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