CNN reporters slam Sarah Huckabee Sanders for criticizing their 'negative' coverage of Trump after attempted bombing
- White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders on Thursday bashed CNN after it faced a bomb scare the day prior, claiming the "first thing" it did in response to the treat was blame President Donald Trump.
- CNN reporters slammed Sanders for her comments.
- Anchor Jim Sciutto said, "What the press secretary ...said there is not true. We reported the news."
White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders on Thursday bashed CNN after it faced a bomb scare the day prior, claiming the "first thing" it did in response to the treat was blame President Donald Trump.
Sanders also claimed "90%" of the media's coverage of Trump is negative.
"The president is certainly not responsible for sending suspicious packages to someone, no more than Bernie Sanders was responsible for a supporter of his shooting up a Republican baseball field practice last year," Sanders said, referring to the shooting that left Republican Rep. Steve Scalise critically injured.
When asked whether Trump regretted any comments he's made regarding the press or his political opponents, Sanders said he has "condemned violence in all forms and has done that since day one and will continue to do that, but certainly feels that everyone has a role to play."
CNN reporters slammed Sanders for her comments
"Actually, the very first thing CNN was evacuate our NYC offices because of a bomb threat," Jake Tapper tweeted. "And I didn't hear one CNN employee on TV or privately accuse anyone other than the bomber/s of being responsible for the devices. Not one."
Anchor Jim Sciutto said that what Sanders said "is not true."
"We reported the news, in fact, and [anchor] Poppy Harlow and I can attest to that because we were on the air live" during the evacuation, he added.
Sanders on Wednesday went after CNN after network president Jeff Zucker decried the president's anti-media rhetoric. Sanders accused Zucker of being divisive after Trump called for unity in a statement earlier in the day.
"The President, and especially the White House Press Secretary, should understand their words matter. Thus far, they have shown no comprehension of that," Zucker said in a statement.
Trump has repeatedly referred to CNN and other top media outlets as "Fake News" and the "enemy of the American people."
On Thursday morning, he tweeted that much of the "anger" in the US at the moment is due to what he described as "purposely false and inaccurate reporting of the Mainstream Media that I refer to as Fake News."
A number of suspicious packages have been sent to top Democrats and Trump critics
On Wednesday, officials reported bombs had been sent or addressed to former President Barack Obama, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, former CIA Director John Brennan, former Attorney General Eric Holder, and Democratic Rep. Maxine Waters.
On Thursday, officials said two suspicious packages addressed to former Vice President Joe Biden had been intercepted at separate mailing facilities and another package was found at actor Robert De Niro's production company in New York City.
Separately, a bomb was found Monday in the mailbox of billionaire George Soros, a prominent Democrat donor who has often been the target of right-wing conspiracy theories.
Read more:
- CNN evacuates New York City office amid reports of suspicious package
- The suspicious package sent to CNN's New York office was reportedly addressed to former CIA Director John Brennan
- White House and Donald Trump Jr. condemn explosive devices sent to Obamas, Clintons
- Explosive device found in mailbox near billionaire George Soros' home
- Hillary Clinton addresses attempted attack, says 'as an American I am worried'
- Trump condemns 'political violence' after pipe bombs sent to prominent Democrats, says 'we have to unify'
- Prominent conservative activists and talking heads are promoting a conspiracy that Democrats sent explosive devices to Clinton, Obama, Soros
- 'The inevitable consequence of Trump's incitement': Democrats accuse Trump of helping provoke attempted violence against Clintons, Obama, and Soros
- 'This clearly was an act of terror': NYPD safely removes 'live explosive device' from CNN's New York office after similar devices sent to Clinton, Obama homes