CNN's Stelter: Trump Inviting Russia to 'Harass' US Media

Media correspondent Brian Stelter suggested Sunday that President Donald Trump's "petty" anti-CNN tweet Saturday could have been a signal to Russian president Vladimir Putin to crack down on CNN.

In his opening commentary on CNN's "Reliable Sources," Stelter explained Russia's new law – allowing the government to list foreign media as foreign agents – was signed the same day as Trump blasted out his latest anti-CNN tweet.

"Basically, this law in Russia is the precursor to regulating news outlets based in other countries," he said. "What that means is that the U.S. government-funded outlets like Voice of America will probably have to register in Russia as foreign agents."

The new Russian law is seen as possible retaliation against the United States for forcing Russian media to register as foreign agents.

"Some said they felt this was Trump's way of telling Putin, 'make sure you cram down on CNN International' — or may be a complete coincidence," Stelter said. "Either way, Trump's tweet reads like an invitation to undemocratic regimes around the world to harass CNN journalists with the blessing of the U.S. president.

"Is this presidential? No. Is it petty? Definitely."

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