It looks like the saga between the White House and Donald Trump against ESPN and anchor Jemele Hill won't be settling down any time soon.
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After Hill's comments calling Trump a white supremacist earlier this week gained national attention, the two sides have been going back-and-forth, with ESPN issuing several statements and Trump issuing his own via his Twitter account.
Now it appears the White House is doubling down on their assertions of unfairness by ESPN, with Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders talking again about the issue to reporters on Friday afternoon.
"I think that the point is that ESPN has been hypocritical. They should hold anchors to a fair and consistent standard," @PressSec says pic.twitter.com/XSJ4cENQg2
— CBS News (@CBSNews) September 15, 2017
The full statement from the Press Secretary:
"I think the President has made many comments on that front," Sanders said. "I think the point is that ESPN has been hypocritical. They should hold anchors to a fair and consistent standard. ESPN suspended longtime anchor Linda Cohn not too long ago for expressing a political viewpoint. The network's public editor has that said there's 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 they have set themselves in that front."/blockquote>
The consistency that Sanders is referring to is ESPN suspended Cohn, as well as letting go of Curt Schilling for political statements made while with the company. Former reporter Britt McHenry also believes she was unfairly treated for her conservative political views while at ESPN.
The tweets from Hill that started the controversy remain undeleted:
Donald Trump is a white supremacist who has largely surrounded himself w/ other white supremacists.
— Jemele Hill (@jemelehill) September 11, 2017
The height of white privilege is being able to ✌🏾ignore✌🏾his white supremacy, because it's of no threat to you. Well, it's a threat to me.
— Jemele Hill (@jemelehill) September 11, 2017
Trump is the most ignorant, offensive president of my lifetime. His rise is a direct result of white supremacy. Period.
— Jemele Hill (@jemelehill) September 11, 2017
He has surrounded himself with white supremacists -- no they are not "alt right" -- and you want me to believe he isn't a white supremacist?
— Jemele Hill (@jemelehill) September 11, 2017
No the media doesn't make it a threat. It IS a threat. He has empowered white supremacists (see: Charlottesville).
— Jemele Hill (@jemelehill) September 12, 2017
How is it a "false narrative?" Did he hire and court white supremacists? Answer: YES
— Jemele Hill (@jemelehill) September 12, 2017
You just don't want to believe it because it's too unpleasant. But that doesn't change the facts.
— Jemele Hill (@jemelehill) September 12, 2017
He is unqualified and unfit to be president. He is not a leader. And if he were not white, he never would have been elected
— Jemele Hill (@jemelehill) September 12, 2017
Donald Trump is a bigot. Glad you could live with voting for him. I couldn't, because I cared about more than just myself
— Jemele Hill (@jemelehill) September 12, 2017
I hate a lot of things but not enough to jeopardize my fellow citizens with an unfit, bigoted, incompetent moron. But hey, that's just me.
— Jemele Hill (@jemelehill) September 12, 2017
And it's funny how you cling to Benghazi but I bet you didn't give one thought to what Trump said about the Central Park 5
— Jemele Hill (@jemelehill) September 12, 2017
Hill has been with the network for over 10 years, recently taking over hosting duties on the 6PM Sportscenter with long-time co-host Michael Smith. Hill has remained on television during the controversy.
