Trump throws tantrum at press conference, calls CNN's Jim Acosta 'a rude, terrible person'

Donald Trump has officially lost all patience with the media.

At a White House press conference on Wednesday afternoon, President Trump first discussed the mixed midterm results in a flat tone. He then took questions, and things got testy quickly as he sparred with reporters — especially CNN's Jim Acosta.

From the moment Acosta began asking Trump about the migrant caravan heading towards the United States, Trump was visibly angry.

"Here we go," Trump said, continually interrupting Acosta as he spoke, finally losing all chill and snapping.

Trump got defensive when discussing the controversial ad he recently ran against the caravan, explaining the people in it were "not actors."

"I think you should let me run the country, you run CNN, and if you did it well your ratings would be much better" Trump said., taking a jab at the network's ratings.

SEE ALSO: Trump and CNN's Jim Acosta have heated exchange over women reporters asking questions

"That's enough," he repeated, ordering Acosta to put down the mic.

"CNN should be ashamed of itself having you working for them. You are a rude, terrible person. You shouldn't be working for CNN," Trump said. "You're a very rude person. The way you treat Sarah Huckabee is horrible and the way you treat other people are horrible."

Trump then had an aide snatch the mic away from Acosta, and when it was passed to NBC's Peter Alexander, who began to defend Acosta, Trump got angry again.

"In Jim's defense I've traveled with him and watched him. He's a diligent reporter who busts his butt," Alexander argued, to which Trump replied, "Well I'm not a big fan of yours either to be honest. You aren't the best."

Following the press conference, CNN released a statement about Trump's behavior via Twitter, writing, "The President's ongoing attacks on the press have gone too far. They are not only dangerous, they are disturbingly un-American."

CNN went on to defend Acosta and his fellow journalists, reminding remind President Trump that while he may not respect a free press "he has a sworn obligation to protect it."

Trump has a long and tiresome history of anger towards CNN — which he constantly refers to as the "Fake News Media" — and this certainly isn't the first time he's negatively engaged with Acosta directly.

In early October, Acosta and White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders also clashed at a press briefing following Christine Blasey Ford's testimony against Judge Brett Kavanaugh.

When Acosta asked Sanders if she had any problem with the way Trump publicly mocked Ford at one of his rallies in Mississippi, she got defensive and took a jab at both Acosta and CNN.

"I don't have any problem stating facts," Sanders said. "I know that's probably something you do have a problem with but we don't."

Despite many pleas from Americans asking the president to treat the media with respect rather than animosity — especially after several suspicious packages containing explosive devices were sent to CNN offices last month — Trump doesn't seem to be letting up.

So much for a softer tone...

UPDATE: Nov. 7, 2018, 1:35 p.m. EST Updated with comment from CNN.

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