White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre faced further criticism from reporters and Twitter users alike after shouting at the press pool at Tuesday’s news briefing.
After leaving White House Chief Medical Advisor Dr. Anthony Fauci discussed the administration’s vaccination efforts, Daily Caller White House correspondent Diana Glebova attempted to ask a question concerning the coronavirus’s origin. Rather than responding, Jean-Pierre chastised Glebova for being “disrespectful.”
“We have a process here. I’m not calling out on people who yell. And you’re being, you’re being, you’re being disrespectful to your colleagues, and you’re being disrespectful to our guest,” Jean-Pierre said.
“I will not call on you if you yell, and also you’re taking time off the clock because Dr. Fauci has to leave in a couple of minutes.”
Other reporters backed Glebova’s queries, leading Jean-Pierre to exclaim that she was “done” answering theirs.
Users on social media criticized Jean-Pierre’s actions as “unprofessional” and an attack on the press.
Political commentator Dave Rubin remarked, “What a condescending, smug, absolute embarrassment KJP is…”
The Spectator contributing editor Stephen Miller joked, “An incredible display of threatening anti-journalism. This is dangerous. This is a vile threat to the very foundations upon which our free press democracy is based upon. A free press that is allowed to question our government is a sacred virtue for which our Republic must safe gua-“
Washington Free Beacon executive editor Brent Scher tweeted “What does [Jim Acosta] think about this? Attack on the free press?”
“Qs about Covid origins are legitimate and every reporter should be asking them. This reaction from the WH is really weird,” Hudson Institute senior fellow Rebecca Heinrichs wrote.
Barstool Sports blogger Jack McGuire tweeted, “Why [does] she think she’s a 3rd-grade teacher.”
“She’s utterly losing control of the press corps because the WH consistently spends an inordinate amount of time taking questions from the same 12 corporate reporters, day in and day out.
It’s shameful. On the same day FOIA’s return Fauci’s early planning on the origins of covid,” The Daily Caller editor-in-chief Geoffrey Ingersoll wrote.
Since Jen Psaki was appointed press secretary, White House reporters have questioned the Biden administration’s handling of press briefings.
Several reporters were caught up in a heated dispute in March after Associated Press writer Josh Boak finally stopped a conference after less than 45 minutes. The administration has been criticized by members of the press for favoring establishment media pundits.
