White House press secretary still can't explain why ESPN's Jemele Hill should be fired for noting Trump is a white supremacist
Racist is as racist does
Written by Media Matters Staff
Published
From the September 15 White House press briefing:
REPORTER: The president today tweeted out that he wants to see ESPN apologize for what he called untruths. By him saying that though, does that mean that he’s willing to apologize for birtherism claims that he called on for years?
SARAH HUCKABEE SANDERS: I think the president has made plenty of comments on that front. I think the point is that ESPN has been hypocritical. They should hold anchors to a fair and consistent standard. ESPN suspended long-time anchor Linda Cohn not too long ago for expressing a political viewpoint. The network's public editor has said that there is a perception that ESPN has become political and that has harmed the network. This is clearly a political statement. They should be consistent in whatever guidelines that they have set themselves in that front.
[CROSSTALK]
SANDERS: Guys, I’m sorry I’m going to try to keep moving so that I can cover as much ground as possible. John, go ahead.
JOHN ROBERTS: Do you still stand by your statement the other day when you said that what Jemele Hill did was a fireable offense?
SANDERS: I do. And again, I think they laid that out themselves by suspending one of their own anchors for political comments.
FRANCESCA CHAMBERS: A question, but a quick clarification on the ESPN matter. You had said it was a fireable offense, that’s being interpreted as saying that she should be fired. Are you or the president saying she should be fired?
SANDERS: That’s not a decision that I’m going to make. That’s something for ESPN to decide. Again, I was asked about that, I think it is a fireable offense based on the standard that ESPN has set themselves, by saying that people that go too far and make political comments have been suspended from their own network. I think that is a consistency that they should probably focus on. Margaret?
[CROSSTALK]
SANDERS: Hallie, I’ve already taken a question from you.
HALLIE JACKSON: I know you have, and I appreciate that, but you said it was an individual, not a private company.
SANDERS: I’m just asking you to be respectful of your colleagues so that I can get around the room. I've got about two minutes left. Go ahead, Margaret.
REPORTER: You haven’t answered it. Could you?
SANDERS: Go ahead, and this’ll be the last question since we’re tight on –
[CROSSTALK]
JACKSON: You said you don’t have advice for a private company, yet you’re giving advice to ESPN.
SANDERS: I said it’s not my decision to make for a private company. I was asked specific about that individual, I made a comment, I stand by it. I think ESPN needs to stand by the standard that they have set in the own actions that they’ve taken about previous employees. I really don’t have much else to add on that front.
Previously:
White House press secretary calls for ESPN to fire Trump critic Jemele Hill