Trump Berates Reporter, Calls Her ‘Threatening’ For Asking About Comments He Made on Coronavirus
President Donald Trump berated PBS White House correspondent Yamiche Alcindor for a question she asked, at Sunday’s press conference on the coronavirus, regarding his war of words with U.S. governors.
In response, Trump bashed Alcindor in personal terms, billing her question as “threatening.”
“I have two questions,” the PBS reporter started. “The first is, you’ve said repeatedly that you think that some of the equipment that governors are requesting, they don’t need.”
Trump cut in: “I didn’t say that.”
“You said it on Sean Hannity’s Fox News — you said that you might…” Alcindor replied before being interrupted.
“Why don’t you people act…why don’t you act in a little more positive?” Trump said. “It’s always trying to get you, get you. And you know what, that’s why nobody trusts the media anymore.”
“Excuse me, you didn’t hear me,” he continued, as Alcindor attempted to continue her question. “That’s why you used to work for Times, and now you work for somebody else. Look, let me tell you something, be nice. Don’t be threatening.”
“Be nice. Go ahead,” Trump added.
“My question is, how is that going to impact how you fill these orders for ventilators or masks?” Alcindor asked.
“We’re producing a tremendous number of ventilators,” Trump stated. “We’re doing a great job on it.”
Later in the exchange, Trump again called Alcindor’s question “threatening,” while also calling her a “fine journalist.”
“You know, when journalists get up and you’re a journalist, a fine journalist and ask questions that are so threatening, we’re all on the same team,” Trump stated.
Alcindor replied, “I was quoting you directly from your interview with Sean Hannity.”
Trump did make the comments that Alcindor asked him about. In an interview with Hannity this week, the president said of governors: “A lot of equipment is being asked for that I don’t think they will need.”
The PBS correspondent attempted to ask her second question, but Trump said, “That’s enough” and a White House staffer removed the microphone from Alcindor. It was later returned to her by CNN reporter Jeremy Diamond.
[Mediaite]