A CNN spokesperson told Politico that the network will not be attending this year’s party, citing President Trump’s “continued attacks” on the press.
Citing President Donald Trump’s “continued attacks” on the press, CNN is boycotting the White House’s annual Christmas party, according to a Politico report Tuesday.
“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.”
Despite not taking part in the festivities, the CNN spokesperson said that they would provide coverage for the event: “We will send a White House reporting team to the event and report on it if news warrants.”
Following the announcement, White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders appeared to be elated: “Christmas comes early! Finally, good news from @CNN,” Sanders tweeted to Politico’s story.
The event, in which members of the press and White House officials can escape from their ongoing, daily feuds, is being overshadowed by Trump’s hostile stance towards certain networks, particularly CNN.
“[Fox News] is MUCH more important in the United States than CNN, but outside of the U. S., CNN International is still a major source of (Fake) news, and they represent our Nation to the WORLD very poorly,” Trump tweeted Saturday. “The outside world does not see the truth from them!”
CNN reporters have since condemned Trump’s statement, one of many about the network, and replied to his original tweet.
“At CNN we dodge bullets to bring you the news,” tweeted Christiane Amanpour, CNN’s chief international correspondent. “Nothing fake about that.”
“If President Trump knew the facts, he would never have sent that tweet,” Amanpour said in another tweet .
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