President Trump's increasingly aggressive scolding of the media escalated even further on Friday, with the president bullying one reporter for asking a simple question and going after another unprompted.
Trump on Friday was asked by CNN's Abby Phillip whether he wants new Acting Attorney General Matthew Whitaker to rein in Special Counsel Robert Mueller's investigation into Russian interference in the election. "What a stupid question that is," Trump responded. "But I watch you a lot. You ask a lot of stupid questions," he added, while wagging his finger at Phillip. Trump shook his head as he walked away from Phillip without providing an answer.
The president on Friday was also asked about his decision to revoke CNN reporter Jim Acosta's White House press pass. He defended the move by calling Acosta a "very unprofessional man." He then brought up CNN's April Ryan completely unprompted, calling her "very nasty," and a "loser" who "doesn't know what the hell she's doing." Trump then demanded more deference from the media, saying "you have to treat the presidency with respect." Watch Trump's belittling of Phillip's question below. Brendan Morrow
The Week
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