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Attacking the media is a routine for President Donald Trump, but he became particularly personal Monday at a press conference in Rose Garden to announce his new trade deal with Mexico and Canada.
The president directly insulted a journalist, refused to answer questions about Brett Kavanaugh, a Supreme Court candidate, until he finished answering his trade questions, and called on the press. "loco".
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After calling Cecilia Vega from ABC News for a question, Trump said, "She is shocked that I chose her. As in a state of shock. "
Vega replied, "I am not, thank you, Mr. President."
"I'm fine, I know you do not think, you never do," Trump replied.
"I am sorry?" Vega asked. When she then tried to ask a question about Kavanaugh, Trump interrupted her, asking her instead a question about the trade. She finally agreed to answer a request for an exchange and Trump came back to see her later during the press conference to let her ask Kavanaugh's question.
Nevertheless, his insistence on the direction of the press conference has deviated from the norm for White House events, when reporters are free to ask questions about the news of the day.
After the press conference, Vega tweeted"A press conference means that you can ask the question of your choice. #First amendment. "
Similarly, when CNN's Kaitlan Collins asked a question about Kavanaugh at the start of the press conference, Trump declined to answer. "Do not do that," he says. "Do you have a question about trade?"
When Collins protested, Trump waved a finger and said, "Do not do that."
Collins – who in July had declared that he was forbidden to cover an event at the White House after the president had asked him questions earlier in the day – still asked his question, which Trump ignored, passing to another journalist.
"Trump just shouted @ kaitlancollins because she asked a question about Kavanaugh rather than about trade", tweeted Philip Rucker, Washington Post reporter. "Good for Kaitlan to have tried. In the United States, reporters ask questions and politicians, even if they are president, can not dictate the subject.
Other journalists also expressed their support. Hallie Jackson from NBC News tweeted@Kaitlancollins is not here to be nice. She is here to do her job. What is: ask questions to the president – whether he likes them or not. "
Trump then gave Collins a chance to ask Kavanaugh's question, but when she tried to ask for a second follow-up, Trump raised her hand and said, "You know what, you're really tired of it" and went to another journalist.
Trump also said at the press conference that the media had treated him "incredibly unfairly."
"They are worse now than ever. They are loco. But it's okay, I support it, "said Trump, adding," I use this word because of the fact that we have an agreement with Mexico. "
Trump has scheduled four campaign rallies this week, which means Monday's press conference was probably just the beginning of a week that could be filled with presidential press criticism.
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