Members of the media were aghast Thursday after President Trump made a surprise appearance in the White House briefing room and did not take questions.
White House press secretary Sarah Sanders billed the event as a “briefing” in a tweet at 4:07 p.m, which is generally interpreted to mean reporters can ask questions.
“There will be a briefing in the WH briefing room at 4:10 today,” she wrote.
There will be a briefing in the WH briefing room at 4:10pm today.
— Sarah Sanders (@PressSec) January 3, 2019
About 15 minutes later, Sanders appeared in front of reporters to say Trump would make an unexpected appearance.
Trump was in the room for less than 10 minutes to promote his proposal for a border wall. After Trump and border patrol union representatives who appeared alongside him ended their pitch for a wall along the southern border with Mexico, the president left the room without taking questions.
Sanders and other White House officials present also left the room without taking questions. As Sanders left, one reporter shouted: “Sarah, are you coming back? Are you not taking any questions at all?”
Members of the media expressed shock that their questions, amid a government shutdown, were ignored.
CNN anchor Brianna Keilar called the appearance “a stunt” while CNN guest Bill Kristol argued Trump “couldn’t stand that Nancy Pelosi was the center of attention today” after she was voted in as speaker of the House.
“They said there would be a press briefing with the press secretary Sarah Sanders in the White House press briefing room and that is not what happened when they came out,” CNN reporter Kaitlan Collins said.
“Briefings mean a chance to ask questions,” Reuters reporter Jeff Mason said.
Timeline: White House says that @PressSec Sarah Sanders will brief in 5 minutes. Press scrambles. Briefings mean a chance to ask questions. Sanders enters and announces @realDonaldTrump is coming to the podium for the first time. He does. He speaks. No questions. pic.twitter.com/X8h5h7xHxR
— Jeff Mason (@jeffmason1) January 3, 2019
The @PressSec announced a “briefing,” but did not hold one. Trump spoke, but left without taking any Q’s. A reporter shouted: “Sarah, are you coming back? Are you not taking any questions at all?” She didn’t.
— Brian Stelter (@brianstelter) January 3, 2019
Trump, the border agents and Sarah Sanders all depart briefing room without answering questions.
— David Nakamura (@DavidNakamura) January 3, 2019
