While giving his first press conference since the 2016 election, President-elect Donald Trump called BuzzFeed a “pile of failing garbage” before refusing to let a CNN reporter ask a question.
On Tuesday night, BuzzFeed released a report filled with admittedly unverified claims from an unconfirmed source that allege Trump was blackmailed by Russia. Incoming White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer addressed the allegations at the beginning of the Trump's Wednesday press conference by calling BuzzFeed “highly irresponsible,” “left-wing blog.”
Asked about his tweet comparing the intelligence leak published by BuzzFeed to Nazi Germany, Trump called the leak “disgraceful.” He then attacked BuzzFeed for publishing the unverified information.
“As far as BuzzFeed, which is a failing pile of garbage, writing it—I think they’re going to suffer the consequences,” Trump said. “They already are.”
Trump then criticized CNN for their role in covering the alleged scandal based on unverified information:
And as far as CNN going out of their way to build it up—and by the way, we just found out I was coming up—Michael Cohen is a very talented lawyer, a good lawyer my firm, was just reported that it wasn’t this Michael Cohen they were talking about.
So all night long it’s Michael Cohen. I said I want to see his passport. He brings his passport to my office. I say, ‘Hey wait a minute, he didn’t leave the country. He wasn't out of the country. They had ‘Michael Cohen of the Trump organization was in Prague’—it turned out to be a different Michael Cohen.
It’s a disgrace what took place. It’s a disgrace and I think they ought to apologize to start with [to] Michael Cohen.
CNN's Jim Acosta asked, “Since you’re attacking us, can you give us a question?”
“No. No. Go ahead—no, not you. Your organization is terrible,” Trump said while prompting another reporting to ask a question.
Trump instructed Acosta not to be rude.
“I’m not going to give you a question. You are fake news,” Trump continued before Acosta said Trump was not acting appropriately.
After the press conference ended, a reporter, also believed to be Acosta, is heard saying, “Sean, they attacked our news organization!”
According to Tracy Clayton of BuzzFeed, her newsroom is taking their mention well.