Chaos ensued during Monday’s press briefing at the White House when a journalist began shouting at press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre.
The heckler, Simon Ateba, the White House correspondent for Today News Africa — immediately began shouting at White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre, complaining that “this [is] not China, this [is] not Russia,” and saying that Ms. Jean-Pierre hadn’t called on him for seven months.
The outburst took place as the cast of the TV comedy show Ted Lasso stood silently behind her during a press corps appearance. The actors were at the White House to promote mental health.
He complained that “this [is] not China, this [is] not Russia,” and said Ms Jean-Pierre hadn’t called on him for seven months and claimed Jean-Pierre was “discriminating” against him and other individuals in the press corps because she doesn’t “like them”.
Ateba was eventually confronted by other reporters for “impeding their ability to work.”
“The rest of us are here too, pal,” Brian Karem, the host of the Just Ask the Question podcast, said, clearly annoyed.
Another voice chimed in, telling him that if he has grievances he should “bring them to her later,” adding that the press corps is “tired of dealing with this,” a reference to the fact that Atemba has frequently shouted at the press secretary during prior briefings.
Ateba continued arguing, saying people in the back of the room don’t get to ask questions. Karem fired back, telling him not to assume what the other reporters do and to “mind your manners when you’re in here”.
“If you have a problem, bring it up afterwards, but you are impinging on everybody in here who’s only trying to do their jobs,” Karem said.
Once the fighting died down, Ms. Jean-Pierre reminded members of the press to show respect in the briefing room.
“What I will not appreciate is disrespecting your colleagues and disrespecting guests who are here to talk about an incredibly important issue, which is mental health,” she said. “What has just occurred this last 10 or 15 minutes is unacceptable.”
Watch:
chaos in the White House briefing room as a reporter is shouted down by other White House reporters, including @BrianKarem pic.twitter.com/ZLzYrBUsEv
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) March 20, 2023
