CNN is boycotting this year’s White House Christmas party, it announced on Tuesday.
The cable news giant says that President Donald Trump’s ‘continued attacks on freedom of the press and CNN’ has prompted the network to decline the invite to this year’s party.
‘CNN will not be attending this year’s White House Christmas party,’ a CNN spokesperson told Politico.
‘In light of the President’s continued attacks on freedom of the press and CNN, we do not feel it is appropriate to celebrate with him as his invited guests.
‘We will send a White House reporting team to the event and report on it if news warrants.’
The White House Christmas party is an annual event in which reporters and editors from news organizations attend a social gathering at the White House and mingle with administration officials in an off-the-record setting.
CNN is boycotting this year’s White House Christmas party, it announced on Tuesday. The cable news giant says that President Donald Trump’s (above) ‘continued attacks on freedom of the press and CNN’ has prompted the network to decline the invite to this year’s party
In response to CNN’s boycott, White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders tweeted: ‘Christmas comes early! Finally, good news from CNN’
This year’s party is scheduled to take place this Friday at 2pm.
Trump and his administration have frequently blasted media coverage of his presidency – though he has singled out CNN in particular for what he and his supporters perceive as anti-Trump bias.
In response to CNN’s boycott, White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders tweeted: ‘Christmas comes early! Finally, good news from CNN.’
While relations between the administration and CNN were already strained, officials at the network were incensed over Trump’s tweet earlier this week denouncing CNN International.
While relations between the administration and CNN were already strained, officials at the network were incensed over Trump’s tweet earlier this week (above) denouncing CNN International
Clearly fed up by Trump’s antics, CNN International quickly hit back at him in a tweet of its own. ‘It’s not CNN’s job to represent the U.S to the world. That’s yours. Our job is to report the news. #FactsFirst,’ the CNN PR team tweeted
‘@FoxNews is MUCH more important in the United States than CNN, but outside of the US, CNN International is still a major source of (Fake) news, and they represent our Nation to the WORLD very poorly,’ Trump furiously wrote on Twitter.
‘The outside world does not see the truth from them!’
CNN officials believe that the tweet could potentially endanger CNN International journalists who are working in locations worldwide that are hostile to Western reporters, according to Politico.
The network has waged a campaign pushing back against Trump’s attack. Its new marketing slogan – ‘Facts first’ – was likely inspired by Trump.
Clearly fed up by Trump’s antics, CNN International quickly hit back at him in a tweet of its own.
‘It’s not CNN’s job to represent the U.S to the world. That’s yours. Our job is to report the news. #FactsFirst,’ the CNN PR team tweeted.
In addition to the tweet about CNN International, Trump also tweeted on Monday: ‘We should have a contest as to which of the Networks, plus CNN and not including Fox, is the most dishonest, corrupt and/or distorted in its political coverage of your favorite President (me). They are all bad. Winner to receive the FAKE NEWS TROPHY!’
The tweets were his latest attack on the cable network, which he branded earlier this year as ‘fake news’ because he doesn’t agree with how it is covering his administration.
Trump has before shown his clear preference for the conservative-leaning Fox – often tweeting praise of its anchors, stories and ‘honest’ coverage of his administration.
Today’s jab also comes amid tensions over a potential merger between AT&T and Time Warner – which the president starkly opposes.
The Justice Department allegedly told AT&T that the $85billion merger would only be approved if it sells off CNN’s parent company or DirecTV.
AT&T denied that it offered to do so.
On Monday the department sued AT&T to block the merger with the justification that it will hurt competition and consumers.
Because of Trump’s obvious feelings about CNN, the department has drawn wide-ranging criticism for the move – believed by some to be biased by the president’s opinions.
On Tuesday, Trump made a statement that the merger would be bad for the US.
‘Personally, I’ve always felt that that was a deal that’s not good for the country,’ he said.