White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre shut down her briefing with national security spokesman John Kirby after one correspondent would not stop speaking over another reporter.
Jean-Pierre repeatedly warned Today News Africa editor-in-chief Simon Ateba she would cut short the briefing if he kept talking over Al-Arabiya Washington bureau chief Nadia Bilbassy-Charters with his questions about Angolan President João Manuel Gonçalves Lourenço’s visit.
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“It is so surprising that you don’t think if you are accepting an African leader, you can’t take a question from an African journalist,” Ateba said.
“Ok, we can end this briefing right now,” Jean-Pierre replied. “All right, thank you so much,” she added as she ushered Kirby away from the podium.
BREAKING: Karine Jean-Pierre ENDS the White House briefing in chaos after refusing to call on an African journalist
She took zero questions. pic.twitter.com/6XjvViASgb
— RNC Research (@RNCResearch) November 30, 2023
Jean-Pierre then tried to continue the briefing on her own amid more protests from Ateba.
“Alright, we can end this briefing if it’s not going to be respectful here,” Jean-Pierre said.
“I’m saying you are receiving an African leader and you don’t take questions,” Ateba responded before she walked out.
Other reporters in the room expressed their frustrations at Ateba regarding his interruptions, which he returned with expletives.
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Earlier this year, Ateba had his hard pass to the White House revoked when President Joe Biden‘s administration introduced new rules as part of the renewal process. The badge previously permitted him entry to the executive compound without an escort.
Ateba sued Jean-Pierre and the Secret Service in federal court last September to have his access restored.
