CNN’s Acosta: WH doesn’t want ‘you to see and hear what they’re doing’

CNN senior White House correspondent Jim Acosta railed against a lack of transparency in the Trump administration on Thursday, after an apparent White House decision to bar television cameras from recording a “normal” press briefing.

In a series of tweets, Acosta noted that he was off work on Thursday but said that the White House had refused to allow cameras to record the briefing, consequently “taking away” voters’ ability to “see and hear what they’re doing.”

I’m off today but it must be said that YOUR White House is taking away YOUR right to see and hear YOUR government answer questions today

— Jim Acosta (@Acosta) June 22, 2017

The WH is holding what is essentially a normal briefing in the briefing room but they aren’t allowing cameras to record what’s being said. https://t.co/GaOihp44jj

— Jim Acosta (@Acosta) June 22, 2017

{mosads}Acosta also said that, while ” ‘pen and pad’ gaggles are common, the White House’s refusal to hold on-camera press briefings “is different.”

Sure we do “pen and pad” gaggles all the time with various officials. This is different. It’s a briefing without the cameras. Why is that? https://t.co/N46FgBtVbr

— Jim Acosta (@Acosta) June 22, 2017

The reason why is that YOUR government doesn’t want YOU to see and hear what they’re doing. In the United States of America. https://t.co/34qGRYjXUe

— Jim Acosta (@Acosta) June 22, 2017

The United States of America should respect the freedom of the press. You know that freedom? It’s in the constitution of the USA https://t.co/QKGB63WoRj

— Jim Acosta (@Acosta) June 22, 2017

What would the GOP say if Hillary Clinton were to shut down the cameras in the briefing room? And the media went along with it? https://t.co/c0gKy03tod

— Jim Acosta (@Acosta) June 22, 2017

Acosta has emerged as one of the most vocal critics in the media of President Trump’s administration’s alleged efforts to block reporters’ access to information and hinder their ability to ask questions. 

Acosta and other reporters fumed over a decision Monday to hold an off-camera briefing, after the White House had not done so in a week.

White House press secretary Sean Spicer told reporters that they had refrained from allowing cameras because Trump was scheduled to make a public appearance and “there are days where we decide that the president’s voice should be the one who speaks for the administration.”

Those appearances, however, often do not allow reporters to question Trump or administration officials.

Trump has long maintained a strained relationship with the press and has often assailed news outlets that cover his administration critically as “fake news.”

He has also insisted that his frequent use of Twitter allows him to communicate directly with voters and evade the news media, which he has accused of treating him unfairly.