Nervous White House shuts down reporter Jim Acosta for asking Trump about FBI

Donald Trump’s staff is doggedly trying to shield him from questions about the ongoing smear campaign that he and fellow Republicans re engaging in against the FBI.

CNN reporter Jim Acosta tried to ask Trump to respond to the FBI’s statement Wednesday expressing  “grave concerns” about the GOP’s memo and its negative impact on public safety.

The memo, concocted by California Rep. Devin Nunes, smears the bureau’s work and questions its integrity in an attempt to undermine Robert Mueller’s ongoing investigation into Trump, his campaign, and his inner circle of advisers and aides.

But as Acosta, pool reporter for the day, could not get his questions through.

A press aide repeatedly intoned, “Thank you, Jim,” speaking over Acosta as he and and other reporters were ushered out the door. Acosta’s question was drowned out and left unanswered.

Before the media availability, Acosta noted on Twitter, “In his lone scheduled press avail of day, Trump did not answer your pooler’s questions about FBI statement warning against release of Nunes memo.”

Trump and his White House have been absurdly hostile to the media in general and to Acosta in particular. Trump personally kicked Acosta out of the Oval Office earlier this month when Acosta asked about Trump’s “shithole” comments and whether Trump only wanted to allow in white immigrants.

Acosta later said it was a “badge of honor” to be kicked out.

Trump has spent his first year in office largely dodging the press. But as the rate of alarming revelations about his behavior increases, so will the questions about it. The childish antics of his press operation might protect him from reporters, but it won’t protect him from the investigations.