US President Donald Trump harshly criticized CNN senior reporter Kristen Holmes for asking a difficult question. GeographicReference
According to the international news agency, Kristen Holmes asked President Trump to respond to a recent statement by Democratic Senator Jon Ossoff.
Senator Jon Ossoff criticized the US president in his speech, saying that Trump is more interested in building a ballroom in the White House and traveling with his close aide Natalie Harp than in performing his presidential duties.
CNN female reporter Kristen Holmes asked President Trump what he would say about the senator’s statement, which also referred to Natalie Harp.
To which President Trump, instead of answering the question directly, described Senator Ossoff as someone who looked like “P.V. Herman” and then the conversation turned to the reporter.
During this time, when Kristen Holmes tried to ask more questions, Trump repeatedly told her to be quiet.
The president addressed the female journalist and said that she was very rude. When the reporter said that she was from CNN, President Trump replied that CNN is fake news and Kristen Holmes is a loudmouth and a fake reporter.
According to US media reports, President Trump told Kristen Holmes to be quiet several times and cut her off before she could finish her question.
It should be noted that the clash took place when Trump was attending an event and was discussing various issues, including his relationship with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and the decision to reduce US military exercises with South Korea. Politics(Right)
The White House also dragged the reporter’s children into the discussion
The matter was not limited to the bitter rhetoric in the Oval Office. The White House’s rapid response social media account directly targeted Kristen Holmes, calling her question “disgusting and inhumane” and attempting to shame her for her profession.
The White House then followed up with another post, referring to the reporter’s children, saying that one day their children would see their mother’s question and be ashamed of it.
The personal attack made matters worse, as it was the first time the reporter’s family had been directly targeted in response to a political disagreement or journalistic question. GeographicReference
CNN’s response to the White House
CNN defended its reporter, saying that Kristen Holmes was one of the most experienced and respected journalists covering the White House and that she had asked the president a difficult, relevant, and important question.
The statement said that government officials have the right to disagree with reporting or questions they do not like, but that personally attacking reporters when they ask them questions is unbecoming of the presidency and inconsistent with the principles of a free press.
Other CNN journalists also came to Holmes’ defense. One colleague called her “a great reporter, a great person and, above all, a mother,” and questioned why a journalist would respond in such a way when the president asked for clarification on a Democratic senator’s statement.
The real controversy; Who is Natalie Harp?
At the center of the dispute is Natalie Harp, a White House executive assistant who is a prominent figure in President Trump’s inner circle.
Democratic Senator Jon Ossoff cited Harp in a speech Sunday criticizing Trump, accusing the president of being more interested in personal luxuries and travel than in his presidential responsibilities. Ossoff also referred to the plane provided by the Emir of Qatar. Politics(Right)
The White House also reacted strongly to Ossoff’s statement. White House Communications Director Steven Cheung targeted the senator using extremely derogatory language.
It should be noted that President Trump has also used harsh words with female journalists who ask difficult questions in the past. Another CNN journalist, Clarissa Ward, also faced personal criticism from the White House on social media.