CNN reporter Jim Acosta banned from White House after Donald Trump brands him ‘a terrible person’

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CNN correspondent Jim Acosta was denied entry to the White House on Wednesday evening following a heated row with President Donald Trump, who called him a "rude, terrible person" during a press conference. 

Mr Acosta, CNN’s chief White House correspondent, said he was informed by Secret Service officers that he could not enter for his scheduled 8pm broadcast.

Officials later confirmed that his credentials had been revoked.

The episode will reignite fears that Mr Trump has scant regard for press freedom and is intent on limiting space for critical coverage.

Hours earlier Mr Acosta found himself in the president’s line of fire during a news conference called to trumpet Republican success in Tuesday’s midterm elections, but which quickly turned hostile when Mr Trump opened the floor to questions. 

Mr Acosta asked the president about his reference to migrants travelling towards America as an "invasion". 

"Honestly, I think you should let me run the country and you run CNN," Mr Trump snapped, adding "and if you did it well, you’re ratings would be much better".

Mr Acosta persevered in his attempt to question the president, but Mr Trump told him: "That’s enough. Put down the mic."

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"You are a rude terrible person," he added. "The way you treat [White House press secretary] Sarah Huckabee is horrible… You shouldn’t treat people that way."

"When you report fake news…you are an enemy of the people," he said, as an intern tried to take the microphone from the reporter.

The president also berated NBC News correspondent Peter Alexander, telling him "I’m not a big fan of yours either". 

Sarah Huckabee Sanders, White House press secretary, confirmed that Mr Acosta was no longer permitted entry.

“As a result of today’s incident, the White House is suspending the hard pass of the reporter involved until further notice,” she said. 

Mr Trump has repeatedly lambasted what he calls the "fake news media", particularly CNN, during the course of his presidency.

The news network was sharply critical of the president’s rhetoric and attacks on the media after a number of pipe bombs were delivered to its newsroom last month. 

During Wednesday’s press conference Mr Trump was also rebuked for telling another reporter he could not understand her accent.

Meanwhile an African American reporter for PBS who asked Mr Trump whether his embrace of ‘nationalism’ is ‘white nationalism’ was told her question was "racist" and "insulting". 

"Why do I have my highest poll numbers ever with African Americans?" he responded to Yamiche Alcindor. "That’s such a racist question. It’s insulting to me."

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