It's no secret the Trump White House is not the biggest fan of CNN, to put it lightly, sometimes even banning its reporters from attending events after asking questions the president didn't like or refusing to answer the outlet because they are "fake news." So, following a report that Trump threw a tantrum over First Lady Melania Trump's TV being tuned in to "Fake News" CNN aboard Air Force One, the network saw the opportunity to jab back. "Thanks for watching, [Melania]!" CNN's public relations Twitter account said while linking to a CNN story of Melania's spokesperson saying the first lady will watch "any channel she wants." The president caused "a bit of a stir" aboard Air Force One after discovering his wife's TV was not set to his preferred conservative news channel, Fox News, going against Trump's own rule requiring the TVs be set to Fox at the start of each trip, according to emails between White House officials obtained by The New York Times. The day after that report, Melania's spokeswoman, Stephanie Grisham, said she watches "any channel she wants," and refused to comment on newly surfaced recordings of the president and his former lawyer. In an email to Newsweek Wednesday, Grisham said there were more important things to be worried about when it comes to the first lady. "Did you know that every 15 minutes a baby is born with NAS? Maybe you'd like to talk about the 160,000 kids who skip school every day for fear of being bullied, or that 280,000 students are physically attacked in schools every month," Grisham said, referring to Melania's Nashville trip Tuesday to promote her "Be Best" initiative to help children. "Seems kind of silly to worry about what channel she watches on TV (any channel she wants, by the way)," Grisham added, "Or if she heard some recording on the news." All this comes as CNN obtained a secretly taped conversation Tuesday between Trump and his former personal attorney Michael Cohen, who is currently under federal investigation. Cohen, who recorded the conversation in the run-up to the 2016 election discussed with Trump how they would possibly buy the rights to a Playboy model's story about an alleged affair she had with Trump a decade earlier. Shortly after CNN White House pool reporter Kaitlan Collins asked the president about the Cohen tapes at a Wednesday press event, she was "dis-invited" by the White House to attend a later open press event being held in the Rose Garden. Statement regarding CNN press access at today’s White House event. We demand better. pic.twitter.com/s4lSTcHVak — CNN Communications (@CNNPR) July 25, 2018 Various media outlets, including Trump's favorite TV network, Fox News, released statements supporting Collins, pointing to the dangerous precedent it sets to bar members of the free press from such events. White House press secretary Sarah Sanders said any other reporter from CNN could attend the event, just not Collins. "At the conclusion of the press event in the Oval Office, a reporter shouted questions and refused to leave despite repeatedly being asked to do so," Sanders said in a statement, adding that the administration "[supports] a free press." In the past, the White House has claimed a CNN reporter "disrespected" Trump by trying to ask him a question, the head of the president's 2020 re-election campaign called for revoking a CNN chief White House correspondent's press credentials over questions called out to Trump and North Korea's Kim Jong Un, while the president has continued to repeatedly call the network "fake news."<doc-sep>President Donald Trump became upset when he discovered Melania Trump's television aboard Air Force One was tuned to CNN. The New York Times report states that the President was angry at his aides for violating a rule that each trip should begin with the televisions tuned to Fox News. The 71-year-old President has referred to CNN as "fake news" and the "enemy of the people." CNN responded to the NYT report by trolling the President on Twitter by thanking the first lady for watching. Melania Trump's communications director Stephanie Grisham said that the first lady can watch "any channel she wants" and diverted the attention from the NYT report to the issues Melania is focused on in a statement via CNN. "Did you know that every 15 minutes a baby is born with NAS? Maybe you'd like to talk about the 160,000 kids who skip school every day for fear of being bullied, or that 280,000 students are physically attacked in schools every month," Grisham said. "Seems kind of silly to worry about what channel she watches on TV (any channel she wants btw) or if she heard some recording on the news." President Trump admitted in a tweet earlier this year that he considers unfavorable or negative stories as the equivalent to fake news. Planning is underway for this year’s #Christmas at the @WhiteHouse! There is still a lot of work to be done, but I hope everyone will enjoy our final holiday vision for the People’s House. pic.twitter.com/BXeV9xi69W — Melania Trump 45 Archived (@FLOTUS45) July 26, 2018 Melania Trump's statement via her spokeswoman comes after an audio was released of Michael Cohen and President Trump discussing a payment to silence former Playboy model Karen McDougal.McDougal is the second woman to have allegedly been paid to remain silent about an affair with President Trump during his marriage to Melania. After multiple denials, the President admitted to authorizing a payoff to adult actress Stormy Daniels. Melania has seemingly responded to Trump's alleged affairs with non-verbal cues. The first lady once took a separate motorcade to the President's State of the Union address earlier this year shortly after it was reported that he paid Stormy Daniels $130,000 in hush money. Trump reportedly annoyed after spotting Melania's TV tuned into CNN on Air Force One https://t.co/2puYAfPapt pic.twitter.com/jIUq5CoBjQ — Newsweek (@Newsweek) July 27, 2018 Melania Trump took a separate motorcade to the Joint Base Andrews instead of sharing a ride with her husband on Marine One after Karen McDougal had an interview about her affair with Trump. Recently, Melania's spokeswoman rebuked Rudy Giuliani's claim the first lady believes her husband's affair with the adult actress is untrue. "She believes her husband and she knows it's untrue," said Giuliani during a public speaking engagement in Israel. Grisham responded on behalf of Melania. "I don't believe Mrs. Trump has ever discussed her thoughts on anything with Mr. Giuliani."<doc-sep>When you subscribe we will use the information you provide to send you these newsletters. Sometimes they'll include recommendations for other related newsletters or services we offer. Our Privacy Notice explains more about how we use your data, and your rights. You can unsubscribe at any time. Sign up forhealth tips to live a long and happy life Melania Trump was apparently “raged at” by her husband along with the rest of her staff. On Wednesday it was reported that Donald Trump was angry at his wife Melania after she watched CNN on board the President’s plane. The New York Times reported that the First Lady’s choice of channel caused a “bit of a stir”, with Donald Trump “raging at his staff” for “violating a rule that the White House Entourage should begin each trip tuned into Fox.” The news outlet claimed a private email obtained by the paper revealed the event. However, Melania Trump hit back at these claims via her press secretary.<doc-sep>President Trump Donald TrumpTrump lashes out after grand jury seated for New York criminal probe Schumer tees up vote on Jan. 6 commission bill Senators struggle to save Jan. 6 commission MORE reportedly lashed out at aides after seeing first lady Melania Trump Melania TrumpBidens meet with Kennedy Center honorees, a tradition ignored by Trump Jill Biden recognizes Fauci as an 'American hero' Here's why Joe Biden polls well, but Kamala Harris does not MORE’s television broadcasting CNN on Air Force One. An internal email obtained by The New York Times said that the president caused “a bit of a stir” on the aircraft because the television was tuned in to the network he continuously blasts as “fake news.” Officials said in the email that they would turn the televisions to Fox News for future flights, according to the Times. ADVERTISEMENT It is well-known that Trump’s network of choice is Fox News, and he has repeatedly praised their coverage while disparaging other networks, in particular CNN. At a joint press conference earlier this month with British Prime Minister Theresa May, Trump refused to take a question from CNN White House correspondent Jim Acosta, instead moving on to Fox News’s John Roberts. “CNN is fake news. I don’t take questions from CNN,” Trump said. “Let’s go to a real network.” Earlier Tuesday, while speaking at the Veterans of Foreign Wars national conference, Trump attacked the press as “fake news” and told audience members not to believe what they see and read in the media about the economy. “Just remember: What you're seeing and what you're reading is not what's happening,” he said. "Don’t believe the crap you see from these people, the fake news.” A memo circulated on social media earlier this year claiming that the Food and Drug Administration was ordered to display Fox News on all televisions in one of its units, which the FDA denied.<doc-sep>
Donald and Melania Trump meet Vladimir Putin in Helsinki Melania Trump is a mother-of-one and former-model who married Donald Trump in 2005. It was claimed that the First Lady caused a “bit of a stir” aboard Air Force One, however. According to media reports Melania was watching CNN on the plane, which angered Donald. The New York times claimed a private email source explain the event to them. They said Melania caused “bit of a stir”, with Donald Trump “raging at his staff” for “violating a rule that the White House Entourage should begin each trip tuned into Fox.” Melania Trump news: Donald Trump ‘rage’ claims prompt First Lady to fire back However, Melania’s press secretary poo-pooed these claims. Stephanie Grisham said at an event yesterday after being asked about the reports: “Did you know that every 15 minutes a baby is born with NAS? “Maybe you'd like to talk about the 160,000 kids who skip school every day for fear of being bullied, or that 280,000 students are physically attacked in schools every month. “Seems kind of silly to worry about what channel she watches on TV (any channel she wants btw) or if she heard some recording on the news." Stephanie is vocal about her employee on her Twitter account where she often posts responses to media claims about the First Lady. Melania Trump in pictures Sat, July 28, 2018 America's First Lady Melania Trump in pictures. Play slideshow Getty•REUTERS 1 of 100 Melania Trump in pictures Melania Trump news: Donald Trump ‘rage’ claims prompt First Lady to fire back Unhappy with the press coverage during Melania’s trip to Texas to visit children on the border she tweeted: “Today’s visit w the children in Texas impacted @flotus greatly. “If media would spend their time & energy on her actions & efforts to help kids - rather than speculate & focus on her wardrobe - we could get so much accomplished on behalf of children. #SheCares #ItsJustAJacket” Stephanie was referring to the media outrage caused by the First Lady wearing a Zara jacket that read “I don’t care do u?” Now the claims that Melania made Donald angry by watching CNN have also been addressed. The email obtained by the New York times is claimed to be an internal exchange between officials in the White House Military Office and White House Communications Agency. Melania Trump news: First Lady has fired back via her Press Secretary Melania Trump news: It was claimed that the First Lady caused a “bit of a stir” aboard Air Force One