Spicer takes question from CNN reporter scolded by Trump

White House press secretary Sean Spicer took a question during his first daily briefing Monday from CNN’s Jim Acosta, just two weeks after the reporter had a fiery exchange with then-President-elect Trump.

The question came more than an hour into Spicer’s briefing. Acosta, CNN’s White House correspondent, asked about Spicer’s comments criticizing the media for comparing the crowd size at Trump’s inauguration with that of former President Barack Obama.

Spicer responded by saying the overall coverage of Trump by the media since he announced his candidacy has been constantly negative.

{mosads}”The narrative is always negative. And its demoralizing,” Spicer said.

Acosta and Spicer had a back-and-forth longer than any other exchange between the press secretary and a reporter during the Monday briefing. Acosta got off at least four follow-up questions with Spicer.

He was seated in the front row alongside other veteran reporters, including Fox’s John Roberts and ABC’s Jonathan Karl.

There had been speculation on Twitter over whether Spicer would take a question from Acosta after the reporter’s exchange with Trump two weeks ago.

At a press conference in New York, Trump had called Acosta “rude” and blasted CNN as “fake news.”

“Your organization is terrible,” Trump told Acosta when he repeatedly attempted to ask a question.

“You’re attacking us, can you give us a question?” Acosta replied.

“Don’t be rude. No, I’m not going to give you a question. You are fake news,” Trump responded, before calling on another reporter.

On Jan. 10, CNN reported that intelligence officials had briefed Trump on an unverified dossier alleging that the Russian government has compromising information about him.

Buzzfeed published the full dossier shortly after CNN’s report, drawing the ire of Trump and Spicer the following day during the New York press conference.

Spicer’s press briefing on Monday lasted nearly 80 minutes, with other questions ranging widely from Trump’s plans for a border wall to replacing ObamaCare, Syria policy and Trump’s relationship with the CIA.

It was the first time Spicer faced reporters since Saturday, when he delivered a statement blasting the media for its coverage of Trump’s inauguration and refused to take questions. He claimed the president’s inauguration drew the largest inaugural audience ever.