CNN planning to boycott White House Christmas party

CNN will boycott this week’s White House Christmas party amid ongoing tensions between President Trump and the network.

“In light of the President’s continued attacks on freedom of the press and CNN, we do not feel it is appropriate to celebrate with him as invited guests,” a spokesperson for the network told The Hill.

“We will send a White House reporting team to the event and report on it if news warrants,” the spokesperson added in a statement.

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White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders celebrated the news Tuesday, which was first reported by Politico, tweeting, “Christmas comes early! Finally, good news from @CNN.”

The White House Christmas party is held annually, and is typically a casual setting where reporters mingle with administration members.

Trump has been hostile toward the press at times during his presidential campaign and since taking office, dubbing multiple networks and publications “fake news.” He has been especially vocal about his disdain for CNN.

On Monday, Trump tweeted that all networks, except Fox News, should be part of a contest to determine which is “the most dishonest, corrupt and/or distorted in its political coverage of your favorite President (me).”

Trump on Saturday also ripped CNN while praising Fox News, saying the conservative-leaning network is “more important in the United States than CNN.” He added that CNN represents the country “poorly” to the rest of the world.

CNN shot back, tweeting that it’s Trump’s job to represent the U.S. to the world. CNN journalists have in recent days shared accounts of colleagues who have put themselves in danger or been physically harmed while reporting.

Updated: 7:50 p.m.