White House press secretary Sean Spicer finally seemed to reach a breaking point Tuesday when it comes to questions about President Trump and Russia.
Spicer got testy in an exchange with American Urban Radio Networks reporter April Ryan after Ryan announced a premise that Spicer disagreed with: that the White House has a Russia issue to deal with. By the end, Spicer accused Ryan of pushing her own agenda and even instructed her not to shake her head at him.
“No, we don’t have that,” Spicer said when Ryan cited the White House’s Russia issue. When Ryan continued with her question, he cut in again: “No, no. I get it. But I’ve said it from the day that I got here until whenever that there’s not a connection. You’ve got Russia.”
Spicer then offered this zinger: “If the president puts Russian salad dressing on his salad tonight, somehow that’s a Russian connection.”
When Ryan tried again to ask her question, Spicer said, “I appreciate your agenda here. … At some point, report the facts.”
Spicer pointed to those who have said there is no proof of collusion between Russia and the Trump team — which is true but is only a part of the inquiries and is still being investigated by the FBI. He added, “I’m sorry that that disgusts you. You’re shaking your head.”
Spicer then told Ryan that she was “going to have to take no for an answer” when it came to the idea of collusion with Russia.
Ryan moved on, asking about former secretary of state Condoleezza Rice’s visit to the White House and the fact that she wasn’t a Trump supporter. But Spicer again took issue.
“It seems like you’re hellbent on trying to make sure that whatever image you want to tell about this White House stays,” Spicer said.
After some more back-and-forth, Spicer again spotted Ryan shaking her head and told her, “Please, stop shaking your head again.”
I thought April Ryan asked a reasonable question. Trump is at a 37% approval rating in his third month of being president. That is an unprecedented low early in his presidency. There has been scandal after scandal. What IS he going to do to clean up his image?
Sean Spicer was rude to April Ryan. He misquoted her and he spoke to her like she was an errant child. He owes her an apology.
Of course, we have to remember that Spicer is playing to an audience of one–Donald Trump–who has no manners or couth, despite his billions and billions of dollars.
There is no excuse for Spicer to treat a reporter that way. People can still shake their heads and disagree in this country. This isn’t Russia, at least not yet.
Spicer is under a lot of pressure. He has to defend the indefensible and he has to answer to the President. But that doesn’t excuse treating a journalist like a child.
That was just horrible behavior. April Ryan is a well-respected journalist. She was treated like a recalcitrant child.
I never thought the Trump Administration would start their first 70 days (never mind the first hundred) – acting like this. Amateurs – who will take no advice from anyone. Priebus has been unusually quiet.
If I was Spicer – there is no way I would continue to represent Trump – Sad.
I almost feel sorry for that nasty little man. I have heard from people who know him that he used to be a nice man. Everyone liked him. I guess that is a thing of the past.
I expect that we are going to see scandals that make Watergate look like a Sunday School picnic. Things are so corrupt and amateur that it is all tumbling down at warp speed. This administration is in crash and burn mode. That’s what happens when fools have enough rope.