CNN boycotts White House Christmas party over lack of freedom of press

The CNN Center located in Downtown Atlanta, Georgia.

The CNN news network says it will boycott a White House Christmas party held for the media this year over President Donald Trump’s “continued attacks on freedom of the press.”

The annual event, scheduled for Friday, is typically an event where reporters can mingle freely with administration members, but Trump's posture toward the press has been uniquely aggressive.

“In light of the President’s continued attacks on freedom of the press and CNN, we do not feel it is appropriate to celebrate with him as his invited guests,” a CNN spokesman told POLITICO.

Instead, the network said it would report the event “if news warrants.”

In response to CNN’s boycott, White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders tweeted Tuesday night, “Christmas comes early! Finally, good news from @CNN.”

Since Trump began his run for office, CNN has been one of his favorite targets. He has often criticized the network as “fake news” and alleged that the network makes up stories.

Trump has repeatedly used the term “fake news” to cast doubt on critical media reports about his administration, often without providing any evidence to support his case that the reports are false.As a candidate, Trump had pursued the same anti-media rhetoric threatening to "open up our libel laws so when they write purposely negative and horrible and false articles, we can sue them and win lots of money."

On Monday, Trump once again tweeted against CNN and news outlets: “We should have a contest as to which of the Networks, plus CNN and not including Fox, is the most dishonest, corrupt and/or distorted in its political coverage of your favorite President (me). They are all bad. Winner to receive the FAKE NEWS TROPHY!”

CNN host Anderson Cooper fought back and said, “We can handle criticism, but we’ll damn sure call it out when it’s a lie.”

“His assault against a free press, a free press that stands up to him, will not stop us or any other legitimate news organization,” Cooper said pointing to Trump. “It won’t stop my colleagues around the world who put their lives on the line to do their work, to report.”