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White House launches personal attack on CNN reporter over question to Trump

From The Guardian · () English

Summarized by DistantNews. Read the original for the full story.

At a glance

News Named sources Context piece
  • The White House attacked a CNN reporter, Kristen Holmes, on social media, criticizing her for a question asked to Donald Trump.
  • The post targeted Holmes' children and called her question "disgusting and inhumane."
  • CNN defended Holmes, calling the White House's personal attacks "beneath the office" and contrary to free press principles.

The White House has launched a personal attack against CNN reporter Kristen Holmes, using a social media post that targeted her children and labeled her question to Donald Trump as "disgusting and inhumane."

Someday, your children will come across your disgusting and inhumane question. They will be sickened and embarrassed to have a parent be so callous and vindictive. It’s quite troubling.

— White House social media accountCriticizing reporter Kristen Holmes and targeting her children.

The incident occurred after Holmes, a senior White House correspondent, asked Trump to respond to a comment made by Democratic Senator Jon Ossoff. Ossoff had stated that Trump "doesn't want to do the job" and instead prefers leisure activities, referencing a "flying palace" gifted by Qatar's emir.

Trump dismissed Holmes' question in the Oval Office, calling Ossoff a "Pee-wee Herman lookalike." Subsequently, the White House's "rapid response" social media account shared a clip of the exchange, tagging Holmes and calling her an "embarrassment to her alleged profession." The post further criticized her for a "cheap shot" at a staffer, using harsh language.

Quiet, quiet, quiet. You’re very disrespectful.

— Donald TrumpDirectly addressing CNN reporter Kristen Holmes during an Oval Office event.

A follow-up post from the White House directly addressed Holmes' children, stating they would be "sickened and embarrassed" by her "disgusting and inhumane question." Trump himself also directly confronted Holmes, telling her to "Quiet, quiet, quiet" and calling her "fake news" and a "fake reporter."

Fake news, you’re fake news, you’re a loud boisterous person. You’re fake news. Be quiet. Be quiet. You’re a fake reporter and you report fake news.

— Donald TrumpResponding to Kristen Holmes after she identified herself as a CNN reporter.

CNN defended Holmes, describing her as "one of the most respected and accomplished journalists covering the White House." The network stated that public officials can challenge reporting but that "personal attacks on journalists for asking questions are beneath the office and inconsistent with the principles of a free press."

Public officials are free to challenge reporting they disagree with, but personal attacks on journalists for asking questions are beneath the office and inconsistent with the principles of a free press.

— CNNDefending reporter Kristen Holmes against White House attacks.
About this summary

Originally published by The Guardian. Summarized and contextualized automatically by DistantNews, with a note on how the source frames the story. Not individually reviewed before publishing. How this works.

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