In a tweet storm Saturday morning, Donald Trump did a 180 on CNN’s Jim Acosta, calling him a “nice guy” after a heated exchange during a press conference in London the previous day.
On Friday, during a joint press conference with U.K. Prime Minister Theresa May, Trump shouted down Acosta when he attempted to ask the president questions.
The POTUS responded by calling CNN “fake news” and saying he would not answer any questions from the network. He then moved on to a question from Fox News reporter John Roberts.
“Mr. President, since you attacked CNN, can I ask you a question?” Acosta asked Trump.
Acosta persisted, but Trump added, “CNN is fake news. I don’t take questions from CNN. CNN is fake news. I don’t take questions from CNN.”
But on Saturday, Trump said Acosta was “actually a nice guy,” but taunted CNN for not covering his “takedown” of the reporter. Trump also taunted network head Jeff Zucker for failing to predict that he would win the election. Acosta responded to the tweet by saying it was “hardly” a takedown, while the exchange was indeed covered on CNN.
So funny! I just checked out Fake News CNN, for the first time in a long time (they are dying in the ratings), to see if they covered my takedown yesterday of Jim Acosta (actually a nice guy). They didn’t! But they did say I already lost in my meeting with Putin. Fake News……
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 14, 2018
….Remember, it was Little Jeff Z and his people, who are told exactly what to say, who said I could not win the election in that “there was no way to 270” (over & over again) in the Electoral College. I got 306! They were sooooo wrong in their election coverage. Still hurting!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 14, 2018
Takedown? I don’t think so. Perhaps we should even the playing field next time and you can take my question. (You’re right about one thing.. I am a nice guy) https://t.co/CpSV9sqiqK
— Jim Acosta (@Acosta) July 14, 2018
Trump’s trip to England has been met with large protests, a giant baby Trump balloon, and vicious headlines from the British tabloids. The Daily Mirror was the most caustic in its attacks, with a headline reading “HOW DARE YOU…”
“You insult our country, attack our NHS, embarrass our Queen, undermine our ‘special relationship’, humiliate our PM…and then smugly pose in Winston Churchill’s armchair,” read the Mirror’s sub-head.