President Trump’s decision to call on a Chinese journalist instead of an American at the end of his Paris joint press conference with French President Emmanuel Macron has irked his press corps.
Seems like a clear violation of protocol for this question not to go to an American journalist
— Jonathan Lemire (@JonLemire) July 13, 2017
The New York Times press pooler at the event included this line in her report to the media:
New @CNN: Breaking with norm, Trump calls on Chinese journalist instead of American https://t.co/8EaFovrkuR
— Dylan Byers (@DylanByers) July 13, 2017
“Macron said the final question should go to an American journalist. POTUS did not call on a US journalist.”
Reporters said it broke with protocol because Trump was to have taken two questions from Americans. His first came from ABC News’ Cecilia Vega.
Trump pointed to a Chinese TV reporter who asked about the president’s relationship with his country’s leader.
Trump calls on Chinese reporter when prompted to take question from American journalist https://t.co/iTDHt9ccbL via @jmestepa
— USA TODAY Politics (@usatodayDC) July 13, 2017
A close look at the video shows Trump already pointing to the Chinese journalist as the translator for Macron said the French president preferred for an American to be called on.
Paul Bedard, the Washington Examiner’s “Washington Secrets” columnist, can be contacted at [email protected]
