Fox News’ Sean Hannity gave CNN and Jim Acosta a brutal reality check after President Trump’s rally in Florida.
He blasted the network and its White House correspondent after Acosta whined about the negative reactions he was getting from Trump supporters who were heckling him at the Tampa rally on Tuesday.
“I’m going to actually give your network some advice,” Hannity said on Fox News’ “Hannity” on Tuesday. “If you have an open mind and an open heart, maybe a little humility. The people of this country, they’re screaming at you for a reason. They don’t like your unfair, abusively biased treatment of the President of the United States.”
He continued after a video compilation of Acosta slamming the Trump administration and badgering officials.
“Jim Acosta, that’s called opinion. And you were extremely rude,” Hannity said. “Oh, and a liberal partisan hack. That’s why Americans don’t trust you or fake news CNN. You pretend to be fair, and an unbiased journalist, but you’re not. You are not reporting facts, you’re giving your opinion. You’re an opinion channel.”
“It’s pretty obvious and the people see it. So instead of doubling down on your anti-Trump rage, maybe look inward,” he concluded. “Maybe find your zen, maybe find your inner peace, analyze objectively the overwhelming, nonstop, hysterical coverage against the president. In other words, maybe you will have a better luck getting an interview if you start being a little fair. Maybe, just maybe, you’ll take my advice.”
Acosta, meanwhile, unloaded his frustration with the rally-goers who were “pretty negative” in a conversation with Anderson Cooper.
He accused the White House of avoiding the press and “questions they just don’t like” while declaring that he has taken “more questions from [Trump supporters] than the president has taken from the press lately.”
Cooper spoke with Acosta following the Tampa rally as chants of “CNN sucks” could be heard in the background – echoing the mockery at a June Trump rally. He slammed the White House for its lack of press briefings in July and called out the president for not taking more questions from reporters.
“This White House is obviously hiding from the press,” Acosta agreed, pointing out the hecklers behind him to Cooper and CNN viewers. “They’re hiding the President from the press. They are hiding the press secretary from the press.”
He then went on to complain about the “insults being hurled” at him but boasted that he had bravely spoken to the hecklers, which was more commendable, in his opinion, than what the president has done.
“Despite the president going after the press, he just hasn’t given us opportunities to ask him very many questions,” he complained.
“I think, Anderson, the only conclusion you can draw at this point is they just don’t like the questions right now. And it’s amazing, Anderson. You’re hearing some of the insults being hurled at us right now,” Acosta said. “I’ve been talking to some of these folks this evening, even though they’re being pretty negative towards us right now. I answered a bunch of questions from some of these Trump supporters here about all sorts of things, a lot more questions than the President has taken from us in recent days.”
Acosta repeated his remark in a tweet.
It was great chatting with all the Trump supporters in Tampa tonight. I took more questions from them than the president has taken from the press lately.
— Jim Acosta (@Acosta) August 1, 2018
He also shared a video clip of the rally crowd, dramatically describing “the sad scene we faced” and admitting he was “very worried” about “the hostility whipped up by Trump.”
Just a sample of the sad scene we faced at the Trump rally in Tampa. I’m very worried that the hostility whipped up by Trump and some in conservative media will result in somebody getting hurt. We should not treat our fellow Americans this way. The press is not the enemy. pic.twitter.com/IhSRw5Ui3R
— Jim Acosta (@Acosta) August 1, 2018
Former White House communications director Anthony Scaramucci agreed with Acosta and came to his defense on Twitter.
“The free press needs to be protected as well as their opinions. That’s why that Amendment was First,” he tweeted in response to Acosta’s video.
This isn’t our best. It’s not who we are. I don’t always agree and am often upset with journalists but we are flashing warning lights now that we shouldn’t be flashing. The free press needs to be protected as well as their opinions. That’s why that Amendment was First. https://t.co/6QQhPzK78n
— Anthony Scaramucci (@Scaramucci) August 1, 2018
Fox News’ Geraldo Rivera also denounced the treatment the CNN crew received at the rally.
Very lame of #TampaTrumpRally to stop @Acosta from doing his job, bush league.
— Geraldo Rivera (@GeraldoRivera) August 1, 2018
Thanks guys. We are better than this.
— Jim Acosta (@Acosta) August 1, 2018
But many continued to disagree, calling out the over-dramatic tears over the “free press” when that press happens to be biased and unsupportive of the president, hypocritically not condemning actual assaults and calls to incite violence against Trump supporters.
CNN is living in the hell they have created themselves (and continue to create). Cut the “CNN is the victim” BS. Get real.
— Tom Beh (@tbeh) August 1, 2018
Oh please! This was all planned. You absolutely loathe this president, so in return we loathe you! You have no business at a Trump rally you don’t even broadcast them. #CNNSUCKS #EnemyOfThePeople
— ?? ❌Deplorable MAR❌ ?? (@F16fly) August 1, 2018
Dry your eyes, Mooch, and enough pearl-clutching over the #FirstAmendment. Press freedom is unscathed. What we are seeing is a marketplace revolt against years of lying from biased reporters. It may be a little harsh for you, but it is far from a societal crisis.
— Mark Davis (@MarkDavis) August 1, 2018
True Anthony, but, when our free press practices censorship with the American public, only showing us and telling us what THEY want us to see and hear,not the truth, that is when the free press is no longer free it becomes FAKE NEWS.Which is anti-American and just not who we are.
— Linda (@Linda_WCovfefe) August 1, 2018
So when people is public wear vagina hats and scream “F” Trump. That’s acting like an adult?
— Mike Gnad (@mikejgnad) August 1, 2018
I see people exercising free speech.
Jimmy likes yelling at people, it’s about time he got a taste of his own medicine.
— Mark Rubello (@MarkRubello) August 1, 2018
DONATE TO BIZPAC REVIEW
Please help us! If you are fed up with letting radical big tech execs, phony fact-checkers, tyrannical liberals and a lying mainstream media have unprecedented power over your news please consider making a donation to BPR to help us fight them. Now is the time. Truth has never been more critical!
Frieda@bizpacreview.com
Originally from New York, Powers graduated from New York University and eventually made her way to sunny South Florida where she has been writing for the BizPacReview team since 2015.
- ‘Are we next?!’ Kilmeade breaks down shady FBI actions, concludes Trump justified in his outrage - August 30, 2022
- Grandfather throws down with aggressive kangaroo that attacked his dogs, but who really won? - June 4, 2022
- ‘My name is Dr. Robinson’: Proud abortionist snaps at Chip Roy calling her ‘Miss’ during hearing - May 19, 2022
Comment
We have no tolerance for comments containing violence, racism, profanity, vulgarity, doxing, or discourteous behavior. If a comment is spam, instead of replying to it please click the ∨ icon below and to the right of that comment. Thank you for partnering with us to maintain fruitful conversation.
