Karine Jean-Pierre was having none of it. The press secretary for the White House raged at a reporter who interrupted the press conference on Thursday.
Angolan TV presenter Hariana Veras tried to ask a question during the whole White House press conference on Thursday but was never called on.
As soon as Jean-Pierre completed responding to a query regarding student debt cancellation and the national deficit, the reporter started to disrupt the briefing. The press secretary interjected as the reporter demanded to ask a question over White House reporter Chris Johnson for the Washington Blade.
The reporter continued, “Karine, I’ve been asking you for a question for a long time,”
In an attempt to restore order in the conference, Jean-Pierre yelled, “You’re not being respectful to your coworkers, to your own colleagues.”
For more than a week, we have been trying to obtain a response here. “, the journalist said.
The press secretary urged people to treat one another with respect.
Johnson questioned whether or not President Joe Biden intended to speak with Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer over the timing of a vote on the Respect for Marriage Act, which was approved by the House in July. The legislation aims to codify Obergefell v. Hodges, a Supreme Court ruling that made gay matrimony legal in all 50 states.
The reporter seemed to insist she ask “one single question” after Johnson requested that Jean-Pierre repeat his question because of the “disrespect happening.”
“You’re acting impolitely,” Jean-Pierre remarked. Just go ahead.
The reporter kept on insisting, “Just one little, little question.”
Johnson asked again, and the press secretary responded that the Biden administration is in frequent contact with members of Congress and has indicated support for the proposal.
“This is incredibly important to the president.” Continuing, he said, “You heard from him back in, I believe 2012, when he was among the first to discuss the significance of marriage equality, you know, being ahead of many others.”
Veras has previously interrupted press conferences at the White House.
She slammed Jean-Pierre earlier this month for failing to invite reporters from Africa to briefings. Simon Ateba, the chief White House correspondent for Today News Africa, who has a reputation for yelling over others during the White House press briefing, was eventually called on by Jean-Pierre.
