President Trump yet again embarrassed the United States on a global stage on Tuesday afternoon, when — following a meeting with the Baltic heads of state where he proposed having military guard the Mexican border — he held a joint press conference with Latvian President Raimonds Vejonis, Estonian President Kersti Kaljulaid, and Lithuanian President Dalia Grybauskaite in the East Room of the White House.
At one point, Trump instructed President Vejonis to pick a reporter to ask a question, in the most cringe-inducing way possible. “Pick a reporter, please? You can pick a reporter, a Baltic reporter ideally,” he asked Vejonis, who grinned awkwardly. “Real news, not fake news.”
The room broke out into nervous, awkward laughter, but he wasn’t done.
“Do you want to pick? I think we have enough, yes? Go ahead, pick! Mr. President, pick a reporter from the Baltics,” Trump continued, clearly commanding a stunning read of the room. “Not the same man, he was very tough. Go ahead, pick a reporter.”
Well jeez, maybe if you’d let the poor guy talk. In the end, Vejonis attempted to ask a question only to have Trump cut him off and point at a Baltic reporter.
Just incredible. Many journalists took to Twitter to remind of the dangerous precedent Trump continues to set by writing off American media as “fake,” not to mention how poorly this makes the United States look in front of other world leaders.
Don't laugh when Trump says "fake news."
It's absolutely a direct threat to our democracy.
— Chris Cillizza (@ChrisCillizza) April 3, 2018
US President Donald Trump tells the Latvian president to pick "a Baltic reporter. Real news, not fake news." At a joint news conference with American and foreign reporters. At the White House.
— Chris “Law Dork” Geidner (@chrisgeidner) April 3, 2018
President Trump urges Latvian President Raimonds Vējonis to pick a Baltic reporter because they are “real news, not fake news." When he doesn't, Trump calls on one for him.
— Kaitlan Collins (@kaitlancollins) April 3, 2018
"A Baltic reporter, ideally. Real news. Not fake news." President Trump, using a session with Baltic leaders to mock the American press.
— Phil Elliott (@Philip_Elliott) April 3, 2018
Baltic leaders, as neighbors to Russia, know what actual fake news is being the frequent target of Russian cyber attacks and propaganda, not to mention former members of the USSR. https://t.co/E0C7Abqj07
— Jim Sciutto (@jimsciutto) April 3, 2018
Within 15 US journalist hands raised, Trump directs one of Baltic presidents to select the next question: "You can pick a reporter. A Baltic reporter, ideally. Real news, not fake news."
— Peter Alexander (@PeterAlexander) April 3, 2018
"You can pick a reporter," Trump says to Latvian president. "A Baltic reporter ideally. Real news, not fake news." As if he knows the state of journalism in Lithuania, Estonia and Latvia?
— Paul Farhi (@farhip) April 3, 2018
Trump insults the American media in advising one of the Baltic presidents to select the next reporter: "You can pick a reporter. A Baltic reporter, ideally. Real news, not fake news."
— Daniel Dale (@ddale8) April 3, 2018
https://twitter.com/ksenijapavlovic/status/981242851223883781