Fellow journalists and members of the White House press corps came to the immediate defense of CNN’s Jim Acosta on Wednesday after the Trump administrationrevoked his press credentials. Acosta was involved in a fiery exchange with President Donald Trump during a lengthy, post-election news conference at the White House earlier Wednesday. After repeatedly asking the president questions, provoking a heated outburst, an intern stepped forward to try to take a microphone from the CNN reporter as he moved to evade her. Within hours, Acosta said the Secret Service had denied him entry to White House grounds and press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders claimed the reporter had placed his hands on the young woman.

President Trump believes in a free press and expects and welcomes tough questions of him and his Administration. We will, however, never tolerate a reporter placing his hands on a young woman just trying to do her job as a White House intern... — Sarah Sanders (@PressSec) November 8, 2018

That account prompted a full-throated outcry from many political journalists. The White House Correspondents’ Association, a coalition of the reporters who cover the executive branch, released its strong objections to the move, calling the decision “out of line” and “unacceptable.”

WHCA statement on White House decision on credentials. pic.twitter.com/bukK7CGu2G — WHCA (@whca) November 8, 2018

“Journalists may use a range of approaches to carry out their jobs and the WHCA does not police the tone or frequency of the questions its members ask of powerful senior government officials, including the president,” the group wrote. “Such interactions, however uncomfortable they may appear to be, help define the strength of our national institutions.” The group urged the White House to “immediately reverse this weak and misguided action” and encouraged the public to watch the video of Acosta’s interaction with the intern. Peter Baker, chief White House correspondent for The New York Times, said the move was a “very bad sign” and something he had “never seen since I started covering the White House in 1996.”

If this is a decision by the White House because it doesn't like the coverage, it's the first time I can remember this happening to any reporter since I started covering the White House more than 22 years ago. Very bad sign. https://t.co/VNPDua0dZn — Peter Baker (@peterbakernyt) November 8, 2018

“Other presidents did not fear tough questioning,” Baker wrote on Twitter, noting that Trump may have intentionally called on Acosta to lash out. “If he really thought [Jim] was unfair, then why did he call on him? Because he wants the confrontation.” Reuters’ White House correspondent Jeff Mason, who said he was seated next to Acosta, said he did not see his colleague “‘placing his hands’ on the young intern.” Others called the move “incredibly concerning,” said it simply “didn’t happen” or noted that the administration was likely trying to manufacture a “fresh controversy for the base” following the midterm elections.

The WH is now denying @Acosta access to the WH grounds do his job. This is incredibly concerning. https://t.co/lnZICQIGim — Yamiche Alcindor (@Yamiche) November 8, 2018

They need a fresh controversy for the base too. https://t.co/RIwa7H1Sqh — James Oliphant (@jamesoliphant) November 8, 2018

This is wrong and deeply concerning. https://t.co/8fAE2eC9Uc — Ali Vitali (@alivitali) November 8, 2018

The thing about this White House is that, over and over again, they choose to lie in order to justify wrong and stupid decisions, knowing the press will get worked up over the lie and the base will either believe it or not care about it at all. — Olivia Nuzzi (@Olivianuzzi) November 8, 2018

First part is questionable, second part didn’t happen. https://t.co/t4DSrxuX6W — Katie Rogers (@katierogers) November 8, 2018

Even Ben Shapiro, a notoriously conservative commentator, defended the CNN journalist, writing back to Sanders that her account was “not what happened.” “You could have banned him simply for refusing to abide by any of the normal rules of the press room,” Shapiro wrote. “No need to state something that didn’t happen.”

This is not what happened. You could have banned him simply for refusing to abide by any of the normal rules of the press room. No need to state something happened that didn’t. https://t.co/p9hgtVE8eZ — Ben Shapiro (@benshapiro) November 8, 2018

Other reporters noted that even though, as the BBC’s Jon Sopel put it, Acosta may be a “royal pain in the ass” for Trump, he was just doing his job.

Well this is not complicated. @PressSec has patently misrepresented what happened here. White House aide aggressively tries to take the mic from @Acosta and he never lays a hand on her. The truth still matters. https://t.co/MsWwlTGTd2 — Michael Barbaro (@mikiebarb) November 8, 2018

This is dumb. And disproportionate. @acosta may be royal pain in ass - but that’s our job. We’re not sent to ask easy questions. But can’t help feeling this is a shiny object thrown for the media to chase when far more important things are happening. https://t.co/tAlcg2FqR1 — Jon Sopel (@BBCJonSopel) November 8, 2018

Watching the video below, it does not appear that @Acosta was “placing his hands” on this female intern, as the White House claims https://t.co/QkSasv3qdl — Philip Rucker (@PhilipRucker) November 8, 2018

This is a complete lie. The woman grabbed Jim's arm repeatedly. He never once touched her. In fact at one point @Acosta tells her politely "pardon me, mam" as she's yanking on his arm. https://t.co/Mfh3Ol5Q46 — Allie Malloy (@AlliemalCNN) November 8, 2018

Despite the criticism, Sanders doubled down on the White House’s decision late Wednesday evening, releasing a video on her Twitter account that played a moment from the encounter on a loop, slowing down and zooming in on the footage. “We will not tolerate the inappropriate behavior clearly documented in this video,” she wrote.

We stand by our decision to revoke this individual’s hard pass. We will not tolerate the inappropriate behavior clearly documented in this video. pic.twitter.com/T8X1Ng912y — Sarah Sanders (@PressSec) November 8, 2018

CNN stood by Acosta, sharing the same video interaction “for the world to see” on Twitter. “This unprecedented decision is a threat to our democracy and the country deserves better,” CNN said in its statement. “Jim Acosta has our full support.”