CNN fires back after Sanders claims network blamed her and Trump for pipe bomb mailings

CNN fired back on Monday after White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders said the network blamed her and President Trump for the pipe bomb that was sent to its New York office.

Sanders and CNN correspondent Jim Acosta verbally sparred during a press briefing on Monday after Acosta asked for Sanders to name which media outlets Trump would label the “enemies of the people.”

She declined to name an outlet but said “those individuals probably know who they are,” before turning her attention to CNN.

{mosads}”I think it’s irresponsible of a news organization like yours to blame responsibility of a pipe bomb that was not sent by the president, not just blame the president but blame members of his administration for those heinous acts,” Sanders said.

CNN’s communications department responded to the interaction on Twitter, saying the press secretary hasn’t understood that her words matter.

“No @PressSec, CNN did not say @realDonaldTrump was directly responsible for the bomb sent to our office by his ardent and emboldened supporter,” CNN tweeted. “We did say that he, and you, should understand your words matter. Every single one of them. But so far, you don’t seem to get that.”

No @PressSec, CNN did not say @realDonaldTrump was directly responsible for the bomb sent to our office by his ardent and emboldened supporter. We did say that he, and you, should understand your words matter. Every single one of them. But so far, you don’t seem to get that. pic.twitter.com/ZbH5DQggWq

— CNN Communications (@CNNPR) October 29, 2018

Sanders appeared to be referring to a statement that CNN President Jeff Zucker sent last week after CNN’s headquarters in New York were evacuated over a package bomb. In the statement, Zucker said Trump and Sanders had not shown an understanding that their attacks on the media had consequences.

“The President, and especially the White House Press Secretary, should understand their words matter,” Zucker said. “Thus far, they have shown no comprehension of that. There is a total and complete lack of understanding at the White House about the seriousness of their continued attacks on the media.” 

The president has repeatedly targeted CNN and other mainstream outlets as the “enemy of the people.”

Trump cast blame on the “fake news” media for the “division and hatred” plaguing the U.S. on Sunday night.

“The Fake News is doing everything in their power to blame Republicans, Conservatives and me for the division and hatred that has been going on for so long in our Country,” Trump tweeted. “Actually, it is their Fake & Dishonest reporting which is causing problems far greater than they understand!”  

The Fake News is doing everything in their power to blame Republicans, Conservatives and me for the division and hatred that has been going on for so long in our Country. Actually, it is their Fake & Dishonest reporting which is causing problems far greater than they understand!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 29, 2018

His comments also came one day after a gunman killed 11 congregants at a Pittsburgh synagogue in what was the deadliest attack against Jews in U.S. history. 

The press briefing on Monday was held hours after another suspicious package addressed to CNN’s headquarters was intercepted at an Atlanta post office.