The White House has backed down on its decision to suspend CNN reporter Jim Acosta's press pass after days of pressure and looming legal action, but has unveiled new rules governing future press conferences.
It was an abrupt about-face for the Trump administration, which said on Friday that despite a judge's injunction allowing Acosta back into the White House, it would seek to bar him again in two weeks.
White House officials Sarah Huckabee Sanders and Bill Shine sent Acosta a letter explaining his status, and CNN on Twitter declared victory: "Today the White House fully restored Acosta's press pass. As a result, our lawsuit is no longer necessary. We look forward to continuing to cover the White House."
But in the letter, the White House said that at future press conferences each reporter would be limited to a single question, with follow-up questions permitted at the discretion of the President or staff.
It added that "'Yielding the floor' includes … physically surrendering the microphone to White House staff".
"Failure to abide by any of [the] rules … may result in suspension or revocation of the journalist's hard pass."
The White House's explanations for why it seized Acosta's hard pass shifted over the week afterwards. Acosta has repeatedly clashed with Mr Trump and press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders in briefings over the past two years.
Mr Trump erupted into anger during a news conference when Acosta questioned him about the so-called migrant caravan travelling through Mexico and about an ongoing investigation into Russian meddling in the 2016 presidential election.
"That's enough, that's enough," Mr Trump said as a White House intern attempted to take the microphone from Acosta.
"You are a rude, terrible person," the President added.
The White House suspended his credentials later that day, with Ms Sanders accusing Acosta of putting his hands on the intern who was trying to take the microphone from him.
Ms Sanders called his behaviour "absolutely unacceptable", and later tweeted a video of the incident that others said was "doctored".
Video of the encounter showed Acosta pulling back as the intern moved to take the microphone. Acosta appeared to brush her arm as he tried to hold onto the microphone.
"Pardon me, ma'am," he can be heard saying.
He called the White House accusations a lie.
ABC/AP
