Jean-Pierre clashes with disruptive reporter: ‘We can just end the briefing right here’
Naomi Lim
Video Embed
White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre threatened to cut short her briefing after one reporter interrupted her as she introduced actor Jason Sudeikis and other members of the Ted Lasso cast.
The press briefing room is a “historic” place, where there should be decorum and where reporters present should “respect their colleagues and respect the guests that are here,” according to Jean-Pierre.
ECONOMIC STORM CLOUDS GATHER OVER BIDEN’S IMPENDING REELECTION BID
“I understand that there’s going to be give and take,” she said Monday. “That’s the way the press briefing has gone for decades before, and I will always, always respect that. But what I will not [accept] is disrespecting your colleagues and disrespecting guests who are here to talk, well, were here to talk about a really important issue, which is mental health.”
“What has just occurred this last 10-15 minutes is unacceptable,” she said. “It is unacceptable. So we’re either going to continue the briefing, or we can just end the briefing right here.”
CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER
Jean-Pierre’s ultimatum was in response to being accused by Today News Africa reporter Simon Ateba of discrimination because she does not routinely call on him during her briefings.
Ateba has routinely disrupted Jean-Pierre’s briefings with topics ranging from questions about the African continent to whether she is being replaced by National Security Council spokesman John Kirby.
iFrame Object