So, that was...something. In last night's press conference, Trump defended his less-than-monthlong tenure as POTUS — which has been marked by chaos, legal fights, drama over cabinet appointees, and the firing of his national security adviser — as nothing less than stellar. He also announced that there will be a new executive order on immigration next week and an Obamacare replacement in March. But he spent most of the spontaneous presser attacking the press. Viciously. A lot.
He originally called the press conference to announce his new labor-secretary pick Alexander Acosta, after fast-food executive Andrew Puzder withdrew yesterday. But it quickly devolved into insults lobbed at Hillary Clinton, whom he is no longer running against, and at the press.
He made statements like: "Story after story after story is bad. I WON!" He insulted individual news organisations, like the BBC. He stated his preference for "good" (softball) questions over "bad" (informed) ones. He called any mention of the administration's connection to Russia a "ruse."
Our heads are spinning, but we're actually more thankful than ever that we went to journalism school. And we're not alone — many celebrities and influencers took to Twitter to express their WTF just happened?! feelings.
J.K. Rowling was terrified:
Up until an hour ago, the scariest thing I'd ever watched was Psycho. #TrumpPresser
— J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) February 16, 2017
Gabrielle Union had some harsh words:
That press conference was a sick, ignorant, idiotic mess of hostility and lies from Trump.
— Gabrielle Union (@itsgabrielleu) February 16, 2017
April Ryan, an African-American reporter, asked him whether he was planning to involve the Congressional Black Caucus in his "inner-city agenda." He suggested that the journalist should set up the meeting with the CBC. "They friends of yours?" he asked her.
Turns out, the CBC had already reached out to Trump:
Hi, @realDonaldTrump. We’re the CBC. We sent you a letter on January 19, but you never wrote us back. Sad! Letter: https://t.co/58KiuHmITF
— The CBC (@OfficialCBC) February 16, 2017
And people were not having it with his response to Ryan:
As a random black woman in media, @ashleyn1cole is happy to set up the meeting between @potus & the Congressional Black Caucus. pic.twitter.com/dvFrDvv9Ok
— Full Frontal (@FullFrontalSamB) February 16, 2017
Did he just ask #AprilRyan if the Congressional Black Caucus are friends of hers?
— yvette nicole brown (@YNB) February 16, 2017
Because we ALL know each other (& look alike) amirite?
Some in the GOP were reportedly also outraged:
House GOP aide, echoing many others, on Trump press conference: "bizarre and borderline unhinged."
— Ryan Lizza (@RyanLizza) February 16, 2017
"He should do this with a therapist, not on live television." -- GOP senator to @JohnKingCNN in reaction to Trump's press conference
— Brian Fallon (@brianefallon) February 16, 2017
And the press had never seen anything like this:
So.. "SNL" is going to take Saturday night off and NBC will just rerun the president's press conference from today, right? HOW IS THIS REAL?
— noah michelson (@noahmichelson) February 16, 2017
I've never seen a press conference like that, and I covered a government that once accused a puppet of terrorism.
— Gregg Carlstrom (@glcarlstrom) February 16, 2017
Mood after this press conference pic.twitter.com/gDN2aIgelZ
— Colin Jones (@colinjones) February 16, 2017
The Hillary mentions were through the roof:
Trump said "Hillary" twelve times during his press conference and "Clinton" ten times
— Jennifer Epstein (@jeneps) February 16, 2017
Glenn Thrush ( the Glenn from SNL) made an important point:
The story ISN'T the press conference. It isn't his attack on the press. It's that Trump has no problem w/ Flynn talking sanctions w/ Russia.
— Glenn Thrush (@GlennThrush) February 16, 2017
Jake Tapper's advice: "Get to work and stop whining." Yes...how about that?
.@JakeTapper holds Trump to account after that bizarrely combative press conference: https://t.co/YoWlFf3KLv pic.twitter.com/kEazfto9Zy
— The Daily Beast (@thedailybeast) February 16, 2017
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