Trump gets angry at two reporters and walks out during White House briefing [Video]

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW:

• President Donald Trump angrily exited Monday’s coronavirus briefing at Rose Graden after confronting two female reporters. 
• First reporter was CBN News White House correspondent Weijia Jiang, who asked Trump why it matters to say that US is doing far better than any country on mass testing. 
• Second reporter was CNN’s Kaitlan Collins, who was cut off by Trump before she could even begin with her question. 

President Donald Trump walked out during Monday’s coronavirus briefing after getting annoyed by two female reporters. The briefing at Rose Garden, where Trump stood for almost an hour answering questions from the media, was meant to be a venue for showcasing the recent increases of testing for the coronavirus. 

About past 5pm, CBS News White House correspondent Weijia Jiang asked Trump, “You have said many times that the US is doing far better than any other country when it comes to testing,” to which Trump said, “Yes.” 

Jiang, who is Chinese American, continued, “Why does that matter? Why is it global competition to you, if every day Americans are still losing their lives, and we are still seeing more cases every day?” 

“They’re losing their lives everywhere in the world… And maybe that’s a question you should ask China. Don’t ask me. Ask China that question, okay? If you ask them that question, you may get a very unusual answer,” Trump replied. 

As he proceeded to call on another reporter, Jiang followed up. “Sir, why are you saying that to me, specifically?” 

“I’m not saying it specifically to anybody. I’m saying that to anyone who would ask a nasty question like that,” said Trump who looked irritated. Jiang persisted, but Trump already moved on. 

“Anyone else?” Trump said referring to other reporters, before calling on CNN’s Kaitlan Collins, who was standing in line behind Jiang. “Ok, yes, please go ahead, in the back,” he said. 

Collins approached the microphone, “I have two questions,” she said. 

“No, it’s ok,” Trump said, dismissing Collins, “we’ll go up here.”  

“But you pointed to me, Mr. President, and I have two questions.”  

“Next, next please,” Trump said, as he looked past Collins. Then Collins protested that he called on her but he did not allow her to ask. “I did. And you didn’t respond, and now I’m calling on the other young lady in the back,” Trump responded. 

“But I just wanted to let my colleague finish,” Collins said, but he already cut her off. 

“Ladies and gentlemen, thank you very much. Appreciate it, thank you very much,” Trump said, then he turned and walked out. 

It was the latest exchange in a series of intense back-and-forths the president had with the media people ever since he led daily coronavirus briefings in mid-March.

On Tuesday morning, Trump tweeted “Chinese Americans are the most angry of all. I don’t blame them!”

Source: CNBC.com