CNN is supporting senior White House correspondent Jim Acosta after he forcefully tried to ask President-elect Donald Trump Donald John TrumpBarr criticizes DOJ in speech declaring all agency power 'is invested in the attorney general' Military leaders asked about using heat ray on protesters outside White House: report Powell warns failure to reach COVID-19 deal could 'scar and damage' economy MORE a question at his news conference last week.

"Being persistent and asking tough questions is his job, and he has our complete support," the network said in a statement Monday morning, according to CNNMedia.

Trump called CNN a “terrible” organization when Acosta tried to ask him a question last week, one day after CNN reported that Trump had been briefed allegations that Russia has compromising information about the president-elect.

When Acosta tried to interject, Trump scolded him for being rude.

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“Don’t be rude,” he said. “No, I'm not going to give you a question. You are fake news.”

BuzzFeed published an unverified dossier of the allegations in full, a decision that sparked controversy and backlash. Trump has strongly denied the allegations made in the dossier and attacked both BuzzFeed and CNN for its reporting.

In the days following the exchange, incoming White House press secretary Sean Spicer has repeatedly called on Acosta to apologize for his behavior. He also told Acosta, "If that happens again," at a future press conference, "I will have you removed."

Both Acosta and CNN have declined to apologize and the network responded Monday to Spicer’s claim that he never warned Acosta about his behavior.

"As we have learned many times, just because Sean Spicer says something doesn't make it true,” CNN said.

“Jim Acosta is a veteran reporter with the utmost integrity and extensive experience in covering both the White House and the President-elect."

Spicer claims Acosta mischaracterized their conversation.