The journalists at ABC on Wednesday erupted in “open hostility” to Donald Trump, accusing the President of “shutting down part of the First Amendment” by not calling on network reporters at a press conference with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Jon Karl, Cecilia Vega and Matt Dowd repeatedly whined about the “conservative” questioners who were chosen, lamenting that the preferred narrative of the liberal media wasn’t highlighted.

In the post-press conference coverage, Vega ranted, “I want to tell you about the open hostility right here in this room. You know, I'm sitting right here kind of in the middle of the pack of a number of journalists, mainstream reporters, if you will, and there is open anger in here about the fact the President did not take any real questions about the issue of the day.”

The question of the day, according to Vega, was Michael Flynn’s resignation. Speaking for other journalists, she raged, “And so, you're feeling an open sense of anger and frustration here.” Reporter Karl sputtered, “George, it is astounding. We have now had four presidential news conferences and the President, for the most part, has simply avoided calling on people from news organizations.”

Karl sneered that Trump called on “friendly conservative news organizations.” He lashed out:

Amazing that on a day like this he could have a press conference and not face a single question on the big story of this, the New York Times bombshell report that members of his campaign allegedly had contacts with the Russians during the campaign. No questions on that.

In regard to Flynn, David Brody of the Christian Broadcasting Network mentioned him to the two leaders:

Both of you have criticized the Iran nuclear deal and at times even called for its repeal. I'm wondering if you're concerned at all as it relates to, not just the National Security Adviser Michael Flynn, who is recently no longer here, but also some of those events going on with communication with Russia whether it would keep Iran from becoming a nuclear state.

Brody, Townhall journalist Katie Pavlich and two Israeli reporters kept their queries on the actual subject of Netanyahu’s visit: Israel, a two state solution and Iran’s nuclear capability.

ABC analyst Dowd increased the hyperbole, stating that Trump was dismantling the First Amendment:

This is two democracies, two important democracies in the world and basically the President of the United States is shutting down part of the First Amendment by not taking certain questions that are going to be any way antagonistic.

On February 10, Trump skipped the networks as he held a press conference with Japan’s prime minister.

On February 13, he ignored the networks as he hosted Canada’s Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau.

Partial transcripts of the reaction from ABC journalists can be found below:

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