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During the White House daily press briefing on Sunday, Donald Trump lost his temper after CBS reporter Weijia Jiang challenged the President about not warning Americans about coronavirus while it was “spreading like wildfire through the month of February.”
“Why did you wait so long to warn them,” Jiang asked. “And why didn’t you have social distancing until March 16?’
In response, Trump first asked what news outlet she was with and then said to her, “Nice and easy. Nice and easy. Just relax.” Jiang hadn’t raised her voice. She continued to question him again, but Trump cut her off and responded, “Keep your voice down.” Her voice was not raised.
WATCH: Reporter: You knew #coronavirus was spreading like wildfire in Feb. You held rallies.
Trump: Just relax. We cut off China.
Reporter: (Pressing him.)
Trump: Keep your voice down.
Trump is ABSOLUTELY out of control. WILL NOT ANSWER, just bullies.
Jiang kept pressing about Trump’s delay in issuing a real warning to the American people about coronavirus, highlighting that Trump instead continued to hold massive press rallies and campaign events.
Trump dismissed the idea that he was late in responding to coronavirus. He said, “I was very very early” and “the Democrats did nothing.” Jiang countered, “By the way, when you issued the ban, the virus was already here.”
Trump challenged Jiang to name the number of cases that were already in America at that time and told her to do her research. “How many people died in the United States? And yet, I closed up the country. I believe there were no deaths when I closed up the country. Nobody was there. And you should say thank you very much for good judgment.”
According to The New York Times, nearly 40,000 Americans have traveled back to the United States from China since Trump issued the ban on January 31, which only blocked Chinese nationals.
After the Spat with Jiang, Former Fox News Reporter Gretchen Carlson Called the President a ‘Misgonystic Jerk’
“Keep your voice down,” Trump berates female CBS reporter. He’s an appalling human being. Like every fatal human flaw was poured into a test tube and brought to life. #TrumpBr
Trump’s tone in speaking to Jiang was criticized by numerous users online as being sexist. One person tweeted, “‘Nice and easy.’ ‘Keep your voice down.’ Am I the only one who notices that when a woman reporter challenges him he speaks to her like, well, someone who’s well-practiced in doing bad things to women?”
Keep your voice down?!?
“Keep your voice down.” to a female reporter asking a question at a national press conference. Wow. Sexism, racism, and flat out disrespect. #COVID19
Your president on TV telling women reporters to keep their voices down while he yells at and berates them
Gretchen Carlson, who famously sued Fox News’ Roger Ailes for sexual harassment in 2016, tweeted, “Trump is such a misogynistic jerk to female reporters asking legitimate questions about his #COVID19 plan. He says — “Keep your voice down”. She wasn’t raising it. Thank you @weijia for your questions. Keep asking.”
Trump Lashed Out at Female CBS Reporter Paula Reid During Last Week’s Press Briefing
i want to invite paula reid from cbs news to have lunch with us every day for the rest of the week #pressbriefing
On April 14, Trump got into a heated argument with CBS reporter Paula Reid for criticizing a video the President played during the White House press briefing. Reid, who was sitting in the front row during that press briefing, had more than a few questions for Trump about the video.
“Your video has a complete gap,” she challenged the President. “What did your administration do in February with the time that your travel ban bought you?”
In response, Trump said, “A lot. A lot.” After Reid again said, “The video has a gap,” Trump got visibly angry and lost his temper. “You know you’re a fake,” he said. “Your whole network.”
Trump and Jiang had another tense exchange earlier this month when she asked about the national stockpile of medical supplies in what Trump called “a very nasty tone,” according to USA Today.
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