Forget Russia, CNN is stuck in Siberia.
Reporter Jim Acosta made note of the fact that his network was relegated to the “Siberia” section of the Rose Garden during President Trump’s press conference with Romanian president Klaus Iohannis Friday, quickly adding, “no pun intended.”
“The question has be to be raised whether or not this White House was retaliating against CNN,” Acosta later told Wolf Blitzer during an on-air crosstalk.
“If it is retaliation,” he said, “that’s not going to deter us from what we’re doing over here.”
Acosta went on to explain that CNN was placed in the back, far away from all the action, while the other networks were given a prime front placement, telling Blitzer it felt like “being put in time-out.”
An ominous-looking Blitzer called it “pretty outrageous.”
Trump has had a combative relationship with the media, and CNN in particular.
In May, Trump’s blasted CNN for refusing to air an ad about Trump’s first 100 days in office.
An in January, he refused to take a question from Acosta during his press conference, berating CNN for being “fake news.”
The White House did not respond to TheWrap’s request for comment.
You can watch the full exchange between Blitzer and Acosta here.
CNN was placed away from the other TV networks in the equivalent of Siberia (no pun intended) at today's news conference.
— Jim Acosta (@Acosta) June 9, 2017
Typically, all U.S. TV networks are grouped in same area during news conferences. CNN was placed well off to the side, behind Romanian press https://t.co/DbawO9VPVV
— Jim Acosta (@Acosta) June 9, 2017
Typically, all U.S. TV networks are grouped in same area during news conferences. CNN was placed well off to the side, behind Romanian press https://t.co/DbawO9VPVV
— Jim Acosta (@Acosta) June 9, 2017