White House press secretary Sean Spicer declined a reporter’s request to give a New York Times correspondent an opportunity to ask a question during the daily briefing.
Alexis Simendinger, who reports on the White House for Real Clear Politics, was called on by Spicer at the often contentious briefing on Thursday.
“Sean, I’d like to ask you about two different topics but could you help us all by calling on Peter right now?”
Peter Baker is the White House reporter for the New York Times.
Spicer declined Simendinger’s request.
“No, I’m gonna— I understand,” Spicer said. “I actually call the questions. Alexis, if you don’t want to [ask] your question, I can call on somebody else.”
“Could you call on the New York Times, please?” Simendinger said.
But Spicer moved on to another reporter.
The Washington Examiner has asked Simendinger to explain her attempt to pass the opportunity to the Times.
Thursday’s briefing featured a few combative moments between Spicer and reporters, especially with ABC News’s Jonathan Karl over questions related to President Trump’s claim that former President Obama wiretapped his campaign headquarters.
Reporters have frequently complained about Spicer’s method of calling on reporters during the briefings that are not necessarily part of the mainstream national media, thus evading questions that might be more difficult for the White House.
