Kellyanne Conway Slams CNN's Acosta: 'No Young Woman Should Have Someone Swiping Away at Them'

Presidential counselor Kellyanne Conway has added her voice to the Republican criticism of CNN Chief White House Correspondent Jim Acosta, following President Donald Trump's eventful post-election press conference Wednesday.

Acosta had his White House press credentials revoked late Wednesday, following an incident while the president was taking questions from the media. After Trump answered one of his questions, the journalist refused to return the microphone to a White House intern and continued to challenge the president.

The intern repeatedly grabbed for the microphone but Acosta held on to it until she relented. White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders later said the administration will "never tolerate a reporter placing his hands on a young woman just trying to do her job as a White House intern." This was used as the justification for withdrawing his credentials.

Sanders posted a video alongside her statement to support her claim. However, this was later shown to have been sourced from the far-right conspiracy theory website InfoWars website and doctored to make Acosta's movements seem faster and more aggressive than they were.

Speaking to Fox News Thursday, Conway told host Bill Hemmer: "She was just doing her job, which was to reclaim the microphone that belongs to the federal government, and hand it to the next reporter."

"Obviously, I don't think anybody should have—any young woman, particularly—should have somebody swiping away at them, grabbing the microphone back," Conway continued. "That's very unfortunate. I have talked to that young woman, she is very brave and just doing her job."

In a separate interview with Fox Business, Conway said Acosta "batted down [the intern's] arm." She added: "I'm not sure that he's apologized to that young woman, but she's certainly owed one."

Acosta was unequivocal in his rejection of the White House's accusations last night. The veteran reporter retweeted Sanders' statement, adding: "This is a lie."

After his confrontation with Acosta, Trump told the reporter, "I tell you what: CNN should be ashamed of itself, having you working for them. You are a rude, terrible person."

CNN rallied to Acosta's defense after Wednesday's fireworks. The network released a statement that read, "This President's ongoing attacks on the press have gone too far. They are not only dangerous, they are disturbingly un-American. While President Trump has made it clear he does not respect a free press, he has a sworn obligation to protect it. A free press is vital to democracy, and we stand behind Jim Acosta and his fellow journalists everywhere."