Trump clashes with CNN’s Jim Acosta over Brett Kavanaugh allegations

President
Donald Trump listens to a question during a news conference on
the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York
on September 26, 2018.
Reuters/Carlos
Barria

• President Donald Trump had a combative exchange with CNN’s
  Jim Acosta during a wild press conference on Wednesday.
• Trump addressed the sexual assault allegations against
  Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh.
• Acosta asked Trump to call on female reporters next,
  prompting Trump to demand Acosta explain what he meant.
• Acosta then asked why Trump usually sides with men accused of
  sexual misconduct, rather than accusers.
• Trump replied that it’s possible he’ll change his mind after
  Thursday’s hearing.

President Donald Trump and CNN’s Jim Acosta held a fiery
back-and-forth exchange during a press conference Wednesday
afternoon while discussing the sexual assault allegations
against Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh.

Trump, who had called only on male reporters for the previous
questions, appeared offended when Acosta prefaced his question by
asking that Trump call on female reporters next.

“What does he mean by that? Explain,” Trump interrupted. “What
does that mean? What does it mean?”

But when Acosta replied that it would be “great” if a female
reporter could ask a question about the issue, Trump quickly
agreed.

“I wouldn’t mind it at all, no. I wouldn’t mind it at all.
Wouldn’t make any difference to me. Go ahead,” he said.

But the conversation quickly grew tense again, after Acosta asked
why Trump typically sides with men who have been accused of
sexual misconduct, rather than their accusers.

Acosta referred to figures like Roy Moore, the Republican Senate
candidate from Alabama, and Rob Porter, the former White House
staff secretary. Moore was accused of sexually
harassing and assaulting teenage girls, while Porter was accused of abusing
his ex-wives.

“Well first of all, I wasn’t happy with Roy Moore, let’s get that
straight,” Trump said, though he vehemently defended Moore
during his campaign. Trump added that it was possible that the
testimony of Kavanaugh’s accuser, Christine Blasey Ford, will
make a difference.

Ford, who has alleged Kavanaugh sexually assaulted her in the
early 1980s when the two were teenagers, is set to testify before
the Senate Judiciary Committee on Thursday.

“It’s possible I’ll hear that and I’ll say, ‘Hey, I’m changing my
mind.’ That is possible,” Trump said. “We want to give them a
chance to speak.”

Acosta is notorious for getting
into heated back-and-forths with White House officials during
press briefings, and getting heckled at Trump rallies.

Trump did end up calling on a female reporter at the press
conference next.

Watch a clip of the exchange below: