Trump tells MS Now reporter to be quiet after questioning press pool restrictions
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President Donald Trump responded harshly to a question from MS Now correspondent Akayla Gardner about limiting press pool participation, reiterating his criticism of certain news outlets.
President Donald Trump rebuffed a question from MS Now White House correspondent Akayla Gardner on Saturday as he left the White House, asking whether he only wants supportive outlets in the press pool. Trump answered that he wants "real news, not fake news – like you," and then told the reporter to be quiet when she pressed about tough questions.
The exchange was not broadcast live because CNN had been removed from the designated pool television crew, but the White House posted the clip on social media. Earlier in the week, the administration revoked credentials for several outlets, including MS Now, Politico and CNN, after Trump announced a ban on what he called "the free press." A federal judge briefly restored access for the blacklisted outlets, but they were again blocked from covering a state dinner for Chinese President Xi Jinping.
On Friday, CNN was removed from the rotation of networks assigned to provide pool television coverage of presidential travel. Instead, the pro-Trump network Real America’s Voice accompanied Trump on a trip to Knoxville, Tennessee, where he attended a college football game. The network shared limited footage on social media, captioning a stadium jumbotron image of the president.
"He is picking a fight with the people who are telling unpleasant truths about his administration," said Brian Stelter, CNN’s chief media analyst, referring to the exclusion of CNN from Air Force One coverage.