The Jewish reporter who President Trump told to “sit down” and be “quiet” at a Thursday news conference after asking a question on rising anti-Semitism is “hopeful” on the Trump administration’s outreach to the Jewish community.
Speaking to CNN’s John Berman Friday evening, Ami Magazine’s White House Correspondent Jake Turx said “The Trump campaign and transition and now administration have been extremely forthcoming in reaching out to the orthodox Jewish community.”
He added: “I remain extremely confident that they are going to sit down and meet with community leaders and figure out what it is can be addressed and what is the best and most efficient way to address it.”
Turx also said he was “surprised” by Trump’s reaction to his question.
“We’re professional reporters,” Turx told CNN. “We’re trained to not have any kind of emotional attachment and not allow any kinds of feelings interfere with our jobs, so surprise is something I’m not supposed to be and here I am admitting on national television I was somewhat surprised.”
Turx and Trump had a tense exchange at Thursday’s press conference at the White House when the reporter asked about reports of rising anti-Semitism.
“Despite what some of my colleagues may have been reporting,” Turx began. “I haven’t seen anybody in my community accuse either yourself or anyone on your staff of being anti-Semitic. We understand that you have Jewish grandchildren – you are their zayde [grandfather].”
“However, we are concerned about the uptick in anti-Semitism and how the government is planning to take care of it. There has been a report out that 48 bomb threats have been made against Jewish Centers all across the country the last couple of weeks,” he added. “There are people committing anti-Semitic acts or threatening to – ”
Trump interrupted Turx mid-sentence, and said, “He said he was going to ask a very simple, easy question, and it’s not. It’s not a fair question. OK, sit down. I understand the rest of your question.”
“I am the least anti-Semitic person you have ever seen in your entire life,” Trump added. “I am the least racist person.”
Turx tried to chime in but was ordered to be “quiet.”
“See? He lied about he was going to get up and ask a very straight and simple question. So, you know, welcome to the world of the media,” Trump said. “I hate the charge. I find it repulsive. I hate even the question because people who know me, and you heard [Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu] yesterday … he said, ‘I’ve known Donald Trump for a long time,’ and then he said, ‘Forget it.'”
“So you should take that instead of having to get up to ask a very insulting question like that,” Trump said.
