CNN is accusing President Trump of targeting the network by not inviting any of their reporters to an annual pre-State of the Union lunch.
Commentator Brian Stelter reports that three sources have confirmed the network is being excluded from the lunch.
“President Donald Trump’s targeting of CNN is moving to yet another arena: The annual presidential lunch with television network anchors,” Stelter complained.
The lunch gathering is considered off-the-record and journalists from most major news networks are typically invited to get a glimpse of the President’s mindset prior to the address to Congress.
White House is excluding CNN from the president’s traditional pre-State of the Union lunch tomorrow with news anchors https://t.co/b7wBHnNcSd
— Michael Calderone (@mlcalderone) February 4, 2020
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Here Come the Tears
Several mainstream media figures were outraged that the White House would dare not invite CNN to the proceedings.
The off-the-record proceedings. With reporters who are relentlessly anti-Trump.
Hard to imagine why the President wouldn’t want that circus surrounding him before a triumphant SOTU address as he nears acquittal in the Senate impeachment trial.
“Every news organization should stand by its peer CNN, stand up against Trump and stand for a free press and the first amendment by boycotting the impeached president’s lunch,” journalist Steven Beschloss demanded.
Likewise, CNN White House correspondent Kaitlan Collins asked of her peers, “Why would any other anchor go to this?”
Well, because they don’t work for a fake news outlet would be my number one guess.
The lunch is for NEWS organizations so of course CNN was not on list. Maybe there will be lunch sometime for cartoon channels and their anchors Foghorn Leghorn and Wile E. Coyote can attend. https://t.co/KiqsUCABDY
— Gov. Mike Huckabee (@GovMikeHuckabee) February 4, 2020
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Why the Sad Face CNN?
Interesting that CNN would be outraged over exclusion from the State of the Union lunch. Especially considering the network themselves boycotted the White House Christmas party in 2018.
Lo and behold, it was Stelter who gleefully announced it on social media at the time.
“[White House] is hosting a Christmas party for media,” Stelter relayed. “Lots of curiosity about who will [and] will not attend. CNN staffers will not.”
So brave, so stunning.
“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,” a spokesperson for the far-left network said at the time.
So they complain when they boycott Trump, and they complain when Trump boycott’s them. Which is it? If you didn’t like the attacks before, what changed your mind to the point where you’re begging for an invite?
Quite frankly, the President isn’t about to let up on his attacks against CNN any time soon. Why? Because they have no intention of operating as an organization with integrity any time soon. He’s not obligated to invite anybody, let alone a second-rate outfit.
Anyone recall CNN’s outrage when Barack Obama booted reporters from conservative newspapers off of his airplane? Did they stand in solidarity with their colleagues then?
Spare us the crocodile tears now.
