Sean Spicer brought the White House press briefing into the digital age on Wednesday.
Trump’s press secretary opened the reporter Q&A by fielding a question from a Rhode Island reporter via Skype.
WATCH:
Naturally, journalists flipped out at the historic moment.
Skype questions = softball questions? pic.twitter.com/aky5QPQlIr
— Brian Stelter (@brianstelter) February 1, 2017
Maybe the Skype Seats will ask it https://t.co/joMF4FIjrk
— Jared Rizzi (@JaredRizzi) February 1, 2017
What a fucking joke these Skype seats are
— Merrill Barr (@MerrillBarr) February 1, 2017
People wandering around this Cleveland newsroom in the background on Skype are my favorite part of this
— Jared Rizzi (@JaredRizzi) February 1, 2017
I hate this Skype Seat thing already
— Adam Shaw (@AdamShawNY) February 1, 2017
Is Microsoft paying for Skype product placement in the weekly briefing? If not, is this kind of free promotion allowed?
— Bill Kuchman (@billkuchman) February 1, 2017
Allowing Skype questions for White House press briefings is the only good idea that the current admin has had.
— Rod (@rodimusprime) February 1, 2017
They’re doing a Skype press question now. pic.twitter.com/NExXwZhxts
— Jill Pantozzi (@JillPantozzi) February 1, 2017
We are doing Skype seats already pic.twitter.com/cCYldiobx4
— Gene Park (@GenePark) February 1, 2017
A Skype question?! We made it to 2003 already? #whitehousebriefing
— Andy Mai (@MaiAndy) February 1, 2017
Jesus. WH’s Flynn comes out and threatens Iran. Leaves. They give 1st q to Skype seat, a pre-canned question has NOTHING to with Iran.
— Kevin Baron (@DefenseBaron) February 1, 2017
WH Press Briefing: Second Skype question went through without a hitch. 2 more to go. Technicians behind the scenes: pic.twitter.com/GNVpTTEGhG
— Rafael Rivera (@WithinRafael) February 1, 2017
The Skype thingy at WH Press Briefings is a good move, @PressSec. Symbolic move to remind the nation that the WH is not just DC-specific.
— Andrew T. Walker (@andrewtwalk) February 1, 2017
All Skype questions are apparently prewritten.
— Chris Dachille (@WBALDash) February 1, 2017
This Skype seat shit at the briefing is awkward.
— Yashar (@yashar) February 1, 2017
I don’t know how long it’ll take me to get used to these Skype calls.
— Daniella Diaz (@DaniellaMicaela) February 1, 2017
WHAT THE FUCK IS UP WITH THESE SKYPE QUESTIONS
— Jenn Hoffman (@JennHoffman) February 1, 2017
These set-up softball Skype questions the @WhiteHouse @POTUS started doing during their daily press conference are hilarious
— t̷͘͢r̷̶̸͡͝e҉̷̶̸a̡̛͏͜ (@treasurefingers) February 1, 2017
Right so to get a question in via Skype you have to lob a dixer or a "softball?" (As one Canadian followers told me they're called there.) pic.twitter.com/w3srrvEo5G
— Latika M Bourke (@latikambourke) February 1, 2017
LARS LARSON will be Skype-ing into White House pressers now? pic.twitter.com/IIWbel7D9V
— Jason Wells (@JasonBretWells) February 1, 2017
Sean Spicer's happy to have Skype in the press room so he can talk to radio stations and so Trump can watch live pee-pee shows after hours. pic.twitter.com/p1m5h29rOn
— Tommy Campbell (@MrTommyCampbell) February 1, 2017
Do reporters have to promise to pander to get Skype access to the White House press briefings?
— Zack Ford (@ZackFord) February 1, 2017
Most of these Skype seats are just cheerleaders for Trump.
— Adam Rubenfire (@arubenfire) February 1, 2017
These Skype questions are pure propaganda!
— Yashar (@yashar) February 1, 2017
These Skype questions from Trumpanzee "journalists" are a motherfucking joke.
— JoeMyGod (@JoeMyGod) February 1, 2017
I bet the actual reporters there are loving the sycophantic softballs being lobbed at Trump's press secretary from the giant Skype screen.
— Kevin M. Kruse (@KevinMKruse) February 1, 2017
These Skype questions are also so performative. I wonder if they'll get less throat-cleary and formal over time.
— mat honan (@mat) February 1, 2017
So Skype seats are basically just an opportunity for Spicer to serve talking points through conservative journalists?
— Ben Goggin (@BenjaminGoggin) February 1, 2017