Video: Man in MAGA Hat Apologizes to CNN Reporter for Flipping Him Off

CNN's chief White House Correspondent was given a surprise on Wednesday when a Donald Trump supporter apologized for flipping him off at a Tampa, Florida rally earlier in 2018.

Reporter Jim Acosta was again covering a Florida Trump rally—this time in Fort Myers—when a MAGA-hatted man said he wanted to chat on Wednesday.

"I just wanted to apologize for flipping you off in Tampa," the man said. "I got carried away." Flanked by a woman named Eileen, he went on to say he had been asking for "facts and not opinions." Eileen agreed: "That's all we want."

Acosta thanked the man and said he hoped to see him again, before the pair made their exit. Eileen, who was wearing a white hat emblazoned with "USA," held a bright pink "Women for Trump" sign up to the camera as she left.

The CNN reporter later shared a video of the incident on Twitter, with the comment, "Had a hell of a night in Fort Myers. This man apologized for giving me the finger at a rally earlier this year in Tampa. Really. We had a moment."

CNN is a frequent target of U.S. President Trump's aggressive stance toward the media. The president frequently criticizes the outlet as a figurehead of the so-called "fake news media" and of a perceived liberal bias in the press.

11_1_Acosta Trump Rally
CNN reporter Jim Acosta (R) speaks to people before the arrival of President Donald Trump for his Make America Great Again Rally at the Florida State Fair Grounds Expo Hall on July 31, 2018 in... Joe Raedle/Getty Images

Acosta reported that Trump described the press as "the enemy of the people" at Wednesday's rally. Trump called the audience "one big family" soon after "repeatedly demonizing immigrants," Acosta wrote on Twitter. "When he says 'one family' he means his supporters," the journalist added.

At rally in FL, Trump refers to press as “the enemy of the people.”

— Jim Acosta (@Acosta) November 1, 2018

Earlier this year on a visit to the U.K., Trump refused to answer a question from Acosta at a joint press conference with U.K. Prime Minister Theresa May. "CNN is fake news. I don't take questions from CNN.… Let's go to a real network," the president said, before turning to address a Fox News journalist.

The president did say the reporter was "actually a nice guy" in a subsequent tweet.

Trump's anti-media rhetoric has been criticized in recent days, following the intercepted delivery of several suspicious packages addressed to CNN and a number of prominent Democrats including former President Barack Obama.

Authorities suspect vocal Trump supporter Cesar Sayoc of sending the mail bombs. Sayoc's van was emblazoned with pro-Trump propaganda and a sticker reading "CNN Sucks."

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About the writer


Katherine Hignett is a reporter based in London. She currently covers current affairs, health and science. Prior to joining Newsweek ... Read more

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