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Trump attacks another female reporter for question about Americans going back to work: ‘That’s enough of you’

President snaps at CBS' Paula Reid after she asks what his plan is for the nearly 36 million Americans seeking unemployment aid since the coronavirus pandemic began

Chris Riotta
New York
Tuesday 19 May 2020 22:10 BST
Comments
Trump attacks another female reporter for question about Americans going back to work: ‘That’s enough of you’

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Donald Trump has attacked another female reporter who asked the president on Tuesday about a national reopening plan surrounding the coronavirus pandemic, calling her a “rude person” and adding: “That’s enough of you.”

The president was responding to a question from CBS’ Paula Reid, who asked him why he has yet to announce plan that would get the millions of Americans seeking unemployment aid amid the pandemic back to work.

“Just a rude person you are,” he said, before claiming “the plan is that each state is opening”.

“I think we’ve announced a plan, the plan is that we’re reopening the country, just a rude person you are,” he said. “We’re opening up our country and we’re opening it up very fast.”

“It’s opening up very effectively,” he added. “When you see the numbers I think even you will be impressed, which it’s pretty hard to impress you.”

As Ms Reid attempted to continue asking the president for an answer to her question, Mr Trump snapped back “that’s enough of you” then pointed at another reporter.

More than 36 million Americans have filed for unemployment benefits since the outbreak began in the United States.

She’s far from the first female reporter to be on the receiving end of controversial attacks from Mr Trump. Just days ago, the president attacked CNN’s Kaitlin Collins over a viral clip of the journalist shared in right-wing circles of the web that appeared to show her removing her face mask for a few seconds at the end of a press briefing.

He shared the clip in a tweet, writing: “CNN Faker!”

The president also stirred controversy after abruptly ending a contentious press briefing a week earlier in the White House Rose Garden after refusing to take a question from Ms Collins.

Just before the end of the briefing, he told Weijia Jang, White House correspondent for CBS News, to “ask China” her question about testing in the US.

“Maybe that’s a question you should ask China,” he said. “Don’t ask me, ask China that question. OK?”

Ms Jang, who immigrated to the US from China at the age of two, responded to the president: “Sir, why are you saying that to me specifically?”

"I'm telling you," Mr Trump replied. "I'm not saying it specifically to anybody. I'm saying it to anybody that asks a nasty question."

Ms Jiang pushed back, saying “That’s not a nasty question” and repeating her question once again.

As he attempted to ignore the journalist and call on another reporter, Ms Collins noted that she was previously called on but gave Ms Jiang an opportunity to respond to the president’s comments.

“I just wanted to let my colleague finish,” Ms Collins said. “Can I ask you a question?”

Mr Trump then said “Ladies and gentleman, thank you very much” before exiting the Rose Garden.

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