Jen Psaki Heckled At Last Press Conference By Reporter: “Why don’t you take questions from across the room because that’s not what you’ve done for the past 15 months
White House press secretary Jen Psaki got heckled at her last press conference before she rides off to the warm and lucrative embrace of cable television. Jen started her last day on the job by saying:
“I promised myself I wasn’t going to get emotional. I was very nervous when I went to see them in Delaware. And really what we talked about for the majority of our conversation was the importance of returning integrity, respect and civility to the White House.
“On my best days and as I look back, I hope I followed the example of integrity and grace that they have set for all of us and do set for all of us every day. I’m incredibly grateful to them,” she said of the Bidens.
“At times we have disagreed. That is democracy in action. That is it working. Without accountability, without debate, government is not as strong,” she said of the reporters.
More disrespectful shouting from Today News Africa's Simon Ateba demanding Psaki take his questions immediately while ABC's @MaryKBruce tries to ask about the baby formula shortage.
— Curtis Houck (@CurtisHouck) May 13, 2022
You can dislike Psaki, unwritten rules (ex. AP first), or the people there, but it's still wrong pic.twitter.com/N1dX8LXBIm
“Thank you for what you do, thank you for making me better and most importantly thank you for the work every day you do to make this country stronger.”
Simon Ateba, the chief White House correspondent for Today News Africa, heckled Jen from the back of the room yelling
“Why don’t you take questions from across the room?”
“Why don’t you take questions from across the room? Because that’s not what you’ve done for the past 15 months,” Ateba shouted again.
Psaki ignored him and he shouted again:
“Jen, can I ask you a question from the back?
“Jen, can I ask you a question from the back?”
“Will you take a question from the back of the room?”
Ateba interrupted once again when ABC reporter Mary Bruce yelled:.
“Simon, please stop.”
Simon did not causing Jen to say:
“Simon, if you could respect your colleagues and other media reporters in here, that would be greatly appreciated. Go ahead, Mary.”
Absolute chaos and lack of decorum inside the White House Briefing Room as Today News Africa's Simon Ateba begins shouting and refusing to shut up even though Psaki has already called on AP's Zeke Miller.
— Curtis Houck (@CurtisHouck) May 13, 2022
Not taking questions from the back is a thing. But this is rude. pic.twitter.com/h5xTEr3Cua
Psaki having just told the room she’s grateful for the press’s pushback takes questions from select few:#SimonOteba of Today News Africa says aloud what 80% of the briefing room has felt the entirety of Psaki’s reign.
— Chanel Rion OAN (@ChanelRion) May 13, 2022
Psaki has taken 0 questions from @OANN pic.twitter.com/nD3UkjgTxF