Trump tells female MS NOW reporter to ‘be quiet’ amid questions over press pool ban

WASHINGTON, DC: President Donald Trump on Saturday, September 26, told a female MS NOW reporter to “be quiet” during a tense exchange outside the White House, as he was questioned about his administration’s restrictions on news organizations.

The confrontation comes as Trump has been frustrated with the media, especially three outlets in particular. Just a day prior to this exchange, the White House also removed CNN from the television pool covering Trump’s trip to Tennessee. He also dismissed former President Barack Obama’s comments about women in government as “ridiculous.”

Trump tells MS NOW reporter he wants 'real news, not fake news'

Trump was asked by MS NOW White House correspondent Akayla Gardner whether he wanted only outlets that supported him to be part of the White House press pool. The White House had barred CNN from traveling aboard Air Force One to provide pool television coverage of Trump’s trip to Tennessee.

The Republican leader firmly rejected the suggestion, saying he wanted what he described as “real news” rather than “fake news.” “No, no, no. I want real news, not fake news, like you,” Trump replied, while continuing his criticism of CNN and MS NOW, which he referred to as “MS DNC,” a reference to the Democratic National Committee.

Gardner then pressed Trump further, asking, “Do you not want tough questions?” Trump interrupted her and told her to stop speaking before continuing his criticism of the networks. “Wait, wait, be quiet,” the 80-year-old said, raising his index finger. “What I don't like is fake news. And they’re fake news.” 

The confrontation comes in the backdrop of escalating tensions between the Trump administration and several news organizations. Administration officials had revoked the White House credentials of MS NOW, Politico and CNN after Trump announced what he himself called a “ban on the free press.” A federal judge on Thursday temporarily restored access for the outlets.

CNN had been scheduled to accompany Trump on Saturday as he traveled to Knoxville, Tennessee, for a college football game. Instead, Real America’s Voice, a pro-Trump network that does not have the technical capability to provide live video for other broadcasters, accompanied Trump and posted a limited number of clips from the trip. 

Trump calls Obama’s comments on women in government ‘ridiculous’

Earlier in the day, Trump was also asked about comments made by Obama earlier in the week. The former president had said he believed governments would be better if women were placed in charge for a period of time.

“If you put women in charge of every government for like two years and then just kind of saw alright how are things going, I have a strong belief that things would, they wouldn’t be perfect, but they’d be better,” the 65-year-old said on Monday.

Trump rejected that idea while saying he had a positive view of women. “It's ridiculous,” he said. “I love women. I think they're great. But what a ridiculous statement that is.”