White House personally attacks CNN reporter over question to Trump
A White House social media account launched a personal attack on CNN correspondent Kristen Holmes, invoking her children, after she asked Trump to respond to criticism from Senator Jon Ossoff. CNN defended Holmes, saying the attack was beneath the office of the presidency.
The White House on Monday issued a sharply personal rebuke of CNN senior White House correspondent Kristen Holmes after she pressed Donald Trump with a question in the Oval Office.
Holmes had asked Trump to respond to remarks made by Georgia Democratic senator Jon Ossoff during a Sunday speech, in which Ossoff said Trump "doesn't want to do the job" and instead wants to build his ballroom and travel with Natalie aboard a "defenseless flying palace" gifted by the emir of Qatar. The comment was widely understood as a reference to Natalie Harp, Trump's executive assistant, whose closeness to the president has previously drawn scrutiny.
Trump dismissed the question, calling Ossoff a "Pee-wee Herman lookalike," then told Holmes to be quiet, calling her disrespectful. When she noted she worked for CNN, he called her "fake news" and a "loud, boisterous person," talking over her as she tried to continue asking her question.
The White House's "rapid response" social media account then posted a video clip of the exchange, tagging Holmes and calling her a "disgraceful, humiliating embarrassment" to her profession, adding harsher insults. A second post went further, invoking her children directly, saying they would one day be "sickened and embarrassed" by her "disgusting and inhumane question."
CNN issued a statement defending Holmes as one of the most respected and accomplished journalists covering the White House, saying she had asked a tough, relevant and newsworthy question on behalf of the public. The network said that while officials may challenge reporting they disagree with, personal attacks on journalists for asking questions are beneath the office and inconsistent with press freedom principles.
Earlier the same day, the White House communications director had also posted insults targeting Ossoff over his speech. The incident adds to a pattern of Trump publicly attacking female journalists who ask pointed questions, including past remarks toward reporters from Bloomberg and NBC. Colleagues and other journalists condemned the attack on Holmes, describing her as a respected reporter and mother, and questioning the administration's reaction to a routine question about a senator's criticism.
