Trump seeks ‘decorum’ from reporters in White House, asserts total freedom of Press

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His statement came after a federal US court ordered the White House to immediately reinstate the press credentials of CNN’s correspondent Jim Acosta in a ruling seen as a major victory for media persons.

US President Donald Trump on November 16 sought “decorum” from White House reporters and asserted that he wants total freedom of press.

His statement came after a federal US court ordered the White House to immediately reinstate the press credentials of CNN’s correspondent Jim Acosta in a ruling seen as a major victory for media persons.

Trump said: “Just people have to behave and they have to do — we’re writing up rules and regulations to make our position”.

The press pass of Acosta, CNN’s White House Correspondent, was suspended last week after an altercation he had with President Donald Trump during a news conference. The White House had accused him of placing his hand on an intern. Acosta and the CNN has denied the allegations.

White House temporarily reinstated Acosta’s press pass. Soon after, the CNN correspondent was back on the White House grounds for his daily reporting.

Trump warned that reporters if they don’t listen to the rules and regulations, “we’ll end up back in court” and he will win.

“But more importantly, we’ll just leave. And then you won’t be very happy because we do get good rating,” he said.

Responding to a question, Trump said he wants reporters to maintain decorum in the White House.

“Decorum. You can’t take three questions and four questions and just stand up and not sit down. Decorum, you have to practice decorum.

“We want total freedom of the press. That’s very important to me. It’s more important to me than anybody would believe. But you have to act with respect. You’re in the White House. When I see the way some of my people get treated at press conferences, it’s terrible,” said the US President.

As such, Trump said, his administration is setting up a certain standard in this regard. This is what the court is requesting. “And always freedom of the press, always First Amendment, but that’s the way it is,” he reiterated.

“We always have the option of just leaving. We feel that things aren’t being treated properly, that people aren’t being treated properly, we always have the right to leave.