President Trump slammed Playboy White House correspondent Brian Karem and threatened to leave the daily White House briefing because of him.
Karem shouted down other reporters during a Tuesday briefing in the Rose Garden to ask the president a question about testing for the coronavirus, prompting Trump to threaten leaving the briefing.
“I know you want to blame the WHO, but I’ve spoken to hundreds of people across the country in the last few weeks who say they still can’t get tested, and that they aren’t social distancing,” Karem began.
Trump interjected, “Excuse me, I know your question. You ready? The governors are supposed to do testing. It’s up to the governors.”
Karem then interrupted another reporter’s question, claiming the individuals he’s spoken to have “followed his lead.” In response, Trump addressed the whole pool of reporters, calling Karem a “showboat” and a “loudmouth.”
“I told them when they put this guy here it’s nothing but trouble. He’s a showboat,” Trump said. “If you keep talking, I’ll leave, and you can have it out with the rest of these people.”
Karem has been scrutinized in the past for inappropriate behavior during previous press events. As the White House held a social media summit in July 2019, Karem loudly called attendees a “group of people that are eager for demonic possession.”
Former White House staffer and event attendee Sebastian Gorka then confronted Karem, asking, “And you’re a journalist, right?” After Gorka shouted back, Karem said, “We can go outside and have a long conversation.”
“You’re threatening me in the Rose Garden?” Gorka shouted in response. “You’re a punk! You’re not a journalist! You’re a punk!”
