CNN Worldwide President Jeff Zucker was honored by the Radio Television Digital News Association with the 2019 First Amendment Award. Zucker, accepting the award on behalf of CNN, trashed President Trump in his speech Wednesday night, warning the commander in chief "literally" puts the lives of journalists at risk.



"Whether you like Donald Trump or you dislike Donald Trump, the one thing that I think we can all agree on is Donald Trump has made journalism great again. The other thing we can agree on is the media is not the enemy of the people," Zucker said.





Zucker, taking a subtle shot at FOX News, said the president only grants interviews to outlets that have "assured" him that they will "follow the script."



"This administration has made it abundantly clear that they do not have respect for and tolerance of a free and independent press," Zucker said. "They call us the enemy of the people. They limit our access. They selectively grant interviews, most often outlets that have assured them that they will follow the script."



"Quite literally, they put our lives at risk with their words and their actions," he emphasized.





JEFF ZUCKER, CNN WORLDWIDE PRESIDENT: Whether you like Donald Trump or you dislike Donald Trump, the one thing that I think we can all agree on is Donald Trump has made journalism great again. The other thing we can agree on is the media is not the enemy of the people.



At CNN our core mission is to tell the truth. To hold those in power accountable even when it's uncomfortable - especially when it's uncomfortable. Last November we made the most uncomfortable and easiest decision of my career we sued the president of the United States for taking away the press credential of our chief White House correspondent Jim Acosta, all because he didn't like the questions that Jim was asking him. We didn't pick that fight. We didn't want that fight. But the decision to fight for our right was easy.



The day that we allow those in power to determine who gets to ask them questions, and what kinds of questions we ask, that is the day that this dinner ceases to exist. Some things are bigger than us, and sometimes the right thing to do is extremely clear. As you know we won that case. A judge appointed by Donald Trump restored Jim's White House credential almost immediately. And today, like every day, Jim was there asking the questions that still make them uncomfortable, as it should be. We sued the president of the United States because on that day it was CNN, but on any other day it could have been any one of you.



This administration has made it abundantly clear that they do not have respect for and tolerance of a free and independent press. They call us the enemy of the people. They limit our access. They selectively grant interviews, most often outlets that have assured them that they will follow the script. Quite literally, they put our lives at risk with their words and their actions.

CNN contributor Carl Bernstein introduces Zucker: