Watch Sarah Sanders' fierce response to a reporter who questioned Trump's commitment to a free press
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President Trump began his Wednesday by wondering on Twitter whether the White House should restrict reporters' access to the administration, because "the fake news is working overtime." "Take away credentials?" he mused, with the wispiness of a dandelion blowing in the breeze.
Those ethereal dandelion seeds, unfortunately, blew right into the face of White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders. During her press briefing Wednesday, Sanders was asked by ABC News' Cecilia Vega about the idea of revoking reporters' credentials.
"Is that a line that as press secretary, you would be willing to cross?" Vega asked. Sanders responded by pointing out that she was, at that very moment, answering questions from the media, and that Trump himself had done so earlier in the day. But Vega pressed further: "How is the suggestion of taking American journalists' press credentials away advocating for a free press in this country? Those two do not go together."
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Sanders shot back that once again, "the fact that I'm standing here taking questions" should be an indicator of the White House's openness to the media. She added that "at the same time, the press has a responsibility to put out accurate information," and pointedly referenced two recent news stories that she found to be "outrageous." Watch the heated exchange below. Kimberly Alters
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Kimberly Alters is the news editor at TheWeek.com. She is a graduate of the Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern University.
