In response to the press secretary’s refusal to react to his questions, Today News Africa’s Chief White House Correspondent Simon Ateba shouted at her. Prior to being hauled out, he also charged her with making a mockery of the First Amendment.
The majority of the clip features Jean-Pierre trying to act childish with the reporter while also cracking jokes about the circumstance. She picks on specific reporters solely and refuses to respond to simple questions, which infuriates him.
At that point, Brian Karem, a seasoned Democratic operative, intervened and began criticizing Ateba for his demand for transparency from the White House. Evidently, the press’s role is to accept whatever crumbs Jean-Pierre throws their way rather than to hold authority accountable. No one knew.
The whole situation was embarrassing. You’d think that the White Press Corps would defend free speech and work to make the White House more impartial. That organization, which defended the truth under the Trump presidency but is now simply another Democrat mouthpiece, is unfortunately run by far-left hacks.
A reporter just apologized to Jean-Pierre over @simonateba yelling at her for kicking him out of the press briefing. Reporters used to yell way worse things at @SarahHuckabee and @kayleighmcenany but now they're apologizing for outbursts. pic.twitter.com/isFS9JPer7
— Greg Price (@greg_price11) March 20, 2023
Another reporter then used his question period to apologize to Jean-Pierre and the viewers at home for what had happened, which only made the situation more pitiful. Imagine being such a stooge for the state that you would witness the press secretary eject a reporter from the room and then apologize to her on “behalf of the press corps” rather than your colleague who had just been treated badly.
Compare that to the indignation that the media, including Fox News, displayed when CNN’s Jim Acosta had his credentials temporarily revoked after engaging in physical contact with a staff member.
Jean-Pierre after heated exchange with reporter:
"What has just occurred this last 10-15 minutes is unacceptable…So we're either gonna continue the briefing, or we can just end." pic.twitter.com/OigoKec81b
— TheBlaze (@theblaze) March 20, 2023
But things just got worse. The press corps was then given a speech by Jean-Pierre about how unacceptable the explosion was. Although it is everyone else’s fault, she is the one who refuses to answer questions and orders the removal of a reporter.