Energy Secretary Rick Perry seemed to be having a good time at the White House press podium on Tuesday — such a good time that he didn’t appear to want to give it up.
White House deputy press secretary Sarah Sanders introduced Perry to talk about the administration’s “Energy Week.” After more than half an hour, she started giving Perry the signal to wrap it up.
Rick Perry is 32 minutes in at this White House press briefing. Sarah Huckabee Sanders waiting to take over. pic.twitter.com/sSeu8eRV7m
— Jennifer Jacobs (@JenniferJJacobs) June 27, 2017
Rick Perry is the only Trump aide who does not want to leave the press briefing podium
— Tom Namako (@TomNamako) June 27, 2017
.@GovernorPerry in his element in the WH briefing room, resists subtle suggestions to hand podium to @SarahHuckabee pic.twitter.com/poIJVkJw15
— Jeff Mason (@jeffmason1) June 27, 2017
Getting closer pic.twitter.com/kwoCW021QM
— Adrian Carrasquillo (@Carrasquillo) June 27, 2017
pull the plug! https://t.co/nX1W7KESSt
— Laura Rozen (@lrozen) June 27, 2017
It didn’t work.
they need to start playing the music
— (((YousefMunayyer))) (@YousefMunayyer) June 27, 2017
This is lasting longer than his stint on Dancing w/ the stars
— imnoonespecial (@upserny) June 27, 2017
It appears @SecretaryPerry does NOT want to leave the briefing room. Aides are now standing waiting for him to stop calling on reporters pic.twitter.com/SkdkerVkHj
— Cecilia Vega (@CeciliaVega) June 27, 2017
And he’s lovvvving it. https://t.co/R9bye2Pjwr
— Jonathan Swan (@jonathanvswan) June 27, 2017
She’s way closer now. She’s almost touching his arm to pull him away. This backs up my story that Rick Perry is being ignored. https://t.co/KL7O3IJmQL
— Tara Palmeri (@tarapalmeri) June 27, 2017
The energy secretary is now opining on legalized pot in Colorado
— Rick Klein (@rickklein) June 27, 2017
Several aides now on their feet as Sarah Sanders clearly trying to encourage Perry away from the podium pic.twitter.com/OlKvJwiSd8
— Rosie Gray (@RosieGray) June 27, 2017
Once she finally took the podium, Sanders complimented his “high energy” and made a not-so-subtle reference to the delay.
“I know you guys are probably a little bit tired since we’ve been here a while, so you want to skip on the questions?” she asked.
The laughter from the press seats indicated a clear no.
“Figured it was worth a shot,” she said.