White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre abruptly ended Thursday’s press conference after a reporter that Jean-Pierre often ignores demanded to be called on.
National Security Council Coordinator for Strategic Communications John Kirby appeared at the press conference and talked about President Joe Biden welcoming Angolan President João Lourenço at the White House.
Simon Ateba from Today News Africa interrupted Kirby after trying to ask a question, saying: “It’s so surprising you are receiving an African leader and you don’t take a question from an African journalist.”
Jean-Pierre interjected to let Kirby leave and said, “We can end this briefing if it’s not going to be respectful here.”
Ateba kept trying to talk, so Jean-Pierre opted to simply end the press briefing on the spot. She did not take any questions.
“It’s a shame that @WhiteHouse @PressSec Karine Jean-Pierre decided to abruptly end the press briefing rather than take a question from me after a year,” Ateba wrote on X. “Even when President Biden is hosting an African leader like the President of Angola today, the White House does not take a question from the African journalist in the room.”
“I am highly disappointed and even heartbroken that in the citadel of democracy, and in the most powerful house in the world, I’m being discriminated against for a year for trying to do my job while journalist colleagues remain silent,” he said.
He later said that Jean-Pierre “stormed out to pretend I shut the briefing. Very dishonest.”
WATCH:
BREAKING: Karine Jean-Pierre ends the White House briefing in chaos after refusing to call on an African journalist.
Of course, KJP took zero questions.pic.twitter.com/x7XNjmfNdX
— Steve Guest (@SteveGuest) December 1, 2023