A confrontational exchange unfolded Monday at the White House when President Donald Trump publicly berated a journalist who attempted to ask him questions during a briefing.
CNN correspondent Kristen Holmes tried to direct questions to Trump regarding living conditions for sailors aboard the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln, along with other policy matters. When she attempted to interject while the president was speaking, the situation quickly escalated.
"Quiet. You're being disrespectful in front of this young man, okay? He understands. Quiet. You're a loud, noisy person. You're fake news," Trump told Holmes.
After Holmes identified herself as a CNN reporter and attempted to continue her question, Trump interrupted her repeatedly: "Fake news. You're fake news. You're a loud, noisy person. You're fake news. Be quiet! Be quiet! Be quiet! You're a fake reporter and you report fake news!"
This is not the first time Trump has publicly criticized a CNN journalist. In a previous incident, he complained about a CNN reporter being "always nervous, never see her smiling."
Trump's relationship with the media has long been contentious, and he has filed defamation lawsuits against various news organizations on multiple occasions. His antagonism toward CNN in particular has been a recurring feature of his public appearances.
