CNN chief White House correspondent Jim Acosta found himself largely on the sidelines during his network’s Friday afternoon coverage of the horrifying high school shooting in Santa Fe, Texas. But when he was given a chance to swoop in, he lamented the lack of support from President Trump for “any kind of substantial gun-control measures.”
Of course, Acosta failed to provide any evidence for how passing gun confiscation or control measures would put an end to school shootings like those in Texas and Parkland, FL.
Situation Room host Wolf Blitzer tossed to Acosta for the President’s reaction to the massacre and he noted that Trump is “[f]acing yet another mass shooting on his watch.”
After a soundbite from the President’s remarks at a previously scheduled prison reform event, Acosta fretted that “it’s unclear what the President will do in response to the school shooting in Texas” because “Mr. Trump has backed away from any kind of substantial gun-control measures, despite initially sounding supportive of those kind of laws in the days after the massacre in Parkland, Florida, back in February.”
Acosta cited the National Rifle Association (NRA) as having changed President’s mind and quoted part of his remarks to the NRA Annual Meeting on May 4. The CNN correspondent then concluded with some of his trademark snark:
So it sounds like if you go off of what the President has been saying, that he's not really in the mood for any kind of new gun control measures. We should also point out, Wolf, the flag has been lowered to staff — half staff over here at the White House. Wolf, lots of expression and thoughts and prayers from politicians across Washington. But, Wolf, unfortunately, after too many of these school shootings, these massacres across the country, no solutions coming out of Washington to solve this problem.
Since news of the shooting broke, CNN was lambasted for its dubious claim that there have been 22 school shootings so far in 2018, even though only four fit a common definition of a mass shooting (in which four or more people are injured or killed).
While some like Sara Murray and the Twitter account of CNN PR lashed out at those raising serious questions, Acosta showed that CNN will plow ahead with their on-air lobbying efforts fo anti-gun measures.
To see the relevant transcript from CNN’s The Situation Room on May 18, click “expand.”
CNN’s The Situation Room
May 18, 2018
5:23 p.m. EasternWOLF BLITZER: President Trump has expressed sadness and heart break. Let's go to our chief White House correspondent Jim Acosta. Jim, what else is the President saying?
JIM ACOSTA: Wolf, President Trump vowed to have his administration do everything possible to prevent school shootings in response to the massacre in Santa Fe, Texas. Facing yet another mass shooting on his watch, the President noted today that these massacres are a problem that the nation is facing for decades and here is more of what he had to say earlier today.
PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP: This has been going on too long in our country. Too many years, too many decades now. We grieve for the terrible loss of life and send our support and love to everyone affected by this absolutely horrific attack to the students, families, teachers and personnel at Santa Fe High. We're with you in this tragic hour and we'll be with you forever. My administration is determined to do everything in our power to protect our students, secure our schools, and to keep weapons out of the hands of those who pose a threat to themselves and to others. Everyone must work together at every level of government to keep our children safe.
ACOSTA: Now, it’s unclear what the President will do in response to the school shooting in Texas. Mr. Trump has backed away from any kind of substantial gun-control measures, despite initially sounding supportive of those kind of laws in the days after the massacre in Parkland, Florida, back in February. That was when the president toyed with the idea of restricting firearm purchases to people under the age of 21 years old, among other measures. But the President appeared to reverse course on the issue of gun control after meeting with the National Rifle Association and, Wolf, we should point out speaking to the NRA earlier this month, Mr. Trump reverted to his past rhetoric on the gun issue, saying “your second amendment rights are under siege and they will never be under siege as long as I am your President.” So it sounds like if you go off of what the President has been saying, that he's not really in the mood for any kind of new gun control measures. We should also point out, Wolf, the flag has been lowered to staff — half staff over here at the White House. Wolf, lots of expression and thoughts and prayers from politicians across Washington. But, Wolf, unfortunately, after too many of these school shootings, these massacres across the country, no solutions coming out of Washington to solve this problem. Wolf.
BLITZER: Yep. It’s happened again here in the United States. A school shooting and a massacre. Jim Acosta at the White House. Thanks very much.
