• 11/10/2024

WATCH: Karine Jean-Pierre storms out of White House press briefing when pressed by African reporter

Fox News

White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre angrily stormed out of Thursday’s press briefing after being pressed by an African reporter on why he wasn’t being called on to ask a question.

The clash marks the latest run-in between Jean-Pierre and Simon Ateba of Today News Africa, who accused the White House in June of discrimination for not allowing him to ask any questions during the briefings.

“Can I ask you a follow-up on Angola?” Ateba asked National Security Council spokesman John Kirby after he finished answering another reporter’s question on a different topic. 

Kirby had previously answered questions related to the visit Thursday of Angolan President João Manuel Gonçalves Lourenço to the White House.

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Jean-Pierre, who was calling on reporters to ask questions of Kirby, ignored Ateba and called on a different reporter.

“It is so surprising that you don’t take — you are receiving an African leader, but you can’t take a question from an African journalist,” Ateba said after being skipped over.

“OK, we can end this briefing right now,” Jean-Pierre said as Ateba protested.

Ateba continued as the reporter called on by Jean-Pierre attempted to ask her question.

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“We can end this briefing if it’s not going to be respectful here,” Jean-Pierre said, stepping to the podium as a reporter could be heard mumbling, “Oh my God.”

“You are receiving an African leader, and you don’t take a question,” Ateba continued before Jean-Pierre cut him off, picked up her notes and walked away from the podium.

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“Thanks everybody,” she said as she exited, appearing angry. 

One reporter attempted to ask another question as she walked away, but Jean-Pierre cut him off as well.

“No. Thanks everybody,” she said.

The White House threatened Ateba earlier this year with the revocation of his press privileges after a viral heated clash between him and Jean-Pierre during the June 26 press briefing when he criticized her for not allowing him to ask any questions.

“You’re incredibly rude. You’re being incredibly rude,” Jean-Pierre told Ateba at the time. She proceeded to threaten to end the press briefing if Ateba wouldn’t fall in line and stop interrupting.

Jean-Pierre’s office directly addressed Ateba in a letter the reporter shared on social media, chiding him for the interruption.

https://www.foxnews.com/politics/karine-jean-pierre-storms-out-white-house-press-briefing-pressed-african-reporter