The White House press room erupted into a frenzy Thursday as reporters yelled questions at President Trump’s coronavirus response team as its members left a press conference.
“You’re all undermining the democratic election! Every one of you!” Yahoo News reporter Hunter Walker can be heard shouting after most of the Trump officials had exited the press conference led by Vice President Mike Pence.
“You’re all undermining the Democratic election! Every one of you!”
Reporters scream at @VP and the coronavirus task force following the latest update. pic.twitter.com/SPttoVevgW
— Washington Examiner (@dcexaminer) November 20, 2020
“All of you need to answer this!” Walker added.
Walker tweeted later that he “stood up and asked as loudly as I could why the are refusing to work with Biden when lives are at stake. I asked why they’re undermining our democracy. I pointed out every person on stage was complicit. I am sorry I couldn’t get you all answers.”
I stood up and asked as loudly as I could why the are refusing to work with Biden when lives are at stake. I asked why they’re undermining our democracy. I pointed out every person on stage was complicit. I am sorry I couldn’t get you all answers.
— Hunter Walker (@hunterw) November 19, 2020
“Are you really not going to take questions?” ABC’s Jonathan Karl can be heard asking.
At one point, Karl can be seen standing up with his hands in the air appearing exasperated.
“Mr. @VP — it’s not a press briefing if you do not take questions,” Karl tweeted afterward. “Why the refusal to answer a single question?”
Mr. @VP — it’s not a press briefing if you do not take questions. Why the refusal to answer a single question?
— Jonathan Karl (@jonkarl) November 19, 2020
During the press briefing, the first public coronavirus update from the task force in months, Trump officials acknowledged an increase in positive tests and stressed social distancing measures.
“This is really a call to action for every American to increase their vigilance,” Dr. Deborah Birx said. “This is more cases, more rapidly than what we had seen before. Like before, we do know what to do, and we’re asking every American to do those things.”
