President Trump criticized ABC News reporter Jon Karl after the reporter asked the president about a report written by a long-serving government official.
The exchange happened during the White House Coronavirus Task Force briefing on Monday. Karl, chief White House correspondent for ABC, questioned Trump about a Department of Health and Human Services inspector general report that said hospitals had “severe” shortages for protective equipment amid the coronavirus pandemic.
The report, written by DHHS deputy inspector general Christi Grimm, covered hospital conditions on weeks ago on March 23-24. Grimm was appointed to her latest post in January 2020 but has served in government for over two decades.
Karl noted that Grimm had served under former President Barack Obama, prompting Trump to blast Karl for using weeks-old data compiled by an official who served under a Democratic president.
“Oh, you didn’t tell me that,” Trump responded to Karl. “See there’s a typical fake news deal … You’re a third-rate reporter and what you just said is a disgrace.
“Thank you very much, Jon. You will never make it,” Trump said, moving to the next question.
