Several liberal journalists were chafed that President Donald Trump called on conservative media at a Friday press conference, but their attacks were so unfair that even CNN chimed in to defend the conservative reporters
Trump held a joint press conference with Australian PM Malcolm Turnbull on Friday, and his first question went to Trey Yingst, the White House correspondent for One America News Network.
Ruth Marcus of The Washington Post angrily tweeted that she couldn’t believe Trump dared to call on a conservative news outlet.
OneAmerica News? Seriously? That’s where he takes a question from?
— Ruth Marcus (@RuthMarcus) February 23, 2018
Trump gave the last question to Gabby Morrongiello of the Washington Examiner, prompting more criticism from MSNBC anchor Ali Velshi.
“Aaaand the President’s final question…from the conservative Washington Examiner,” Velshi tweeted. “Wow. Even the most basic elements of accountability are shed by this administration.”
Aaaand the President’s final question…from the conservative Washington Examiner. Wow. Even the most basic elements of accountability are shed by this administration.
— Ali Velshi (@AliVelshi) February 23, 2018
Collectively, the two journalists asked about Syria, gun policy recommendations after the Parkland shooting, Jared Kushner’s security clearance and Australia’s gun buyback program.
Journalists on Twitter quickly jumped to Yingst and Morrongiello’s defense, pointing out that they both asked tough, relevant questions.
“Did you even listen to their questions?” CBS’ Katie Watson asked Velshi.
Did you even listen to their questions? They were solid.
— Katie Watson (@kathrynw5) February 23, 2018
.@gabriellahope_ asked the type of questions any other WH correspondent, from any other outlet, would have asked. Diversifying the kinds of outlets that get to participate in the conversation can only be a good thing if you actually care about journalism and not partisanship. https://t.co/GiQ4SDg8kz
— Sarah Westwood (@sarahcwestwood) February 23, 2018
.@gabriellahope_ & @sarahcwestwood are without a doubt two of the best young reporters in the business….period! https://t.co/wQlNpNzUiG
— Charles V Payne (@cvpayne) February 23, 2018
Even Phil Mattingly and Brian Stelter, both from CNN, went to bat for Yingst, although Stelter did so with a dig at OAN’s size.
in all honesty, if you’re knocking @TreyYingst getting a Q today, you
A. didn’t listen to his questions
B. haven’t been paying attention to his Qs in the briefing room the last 13 months— Phil Mattingly (@Phil_Mattingly) February 23, 2018
First Q at Trump’s joint presser goes to @OANN, a Fox News rival that’s trying to get cable carriage. The channel is so small that it’s not Nielsen rated. But the reporter who was called on, @TreyYingst, is well respected on the W.H. beat https://t.co/I9ntj8jClu
— Brian Stelter (@brianstelter) February 23, 2018
OANN is very Trump-friendly but Trey Yingst asks perfectly good questions at these pressers. https://t.co/rTpXwl9Bvc
— Josh Barro (@jbarro) February 23, 2018
“Trey Yingst is a good journalist period,” The Guardian’s Ben Jacobs affirmed.
.@TreyYingst is a good journalist period. https://t.co/NydIma0DJJ
— Ben Jacobs (@Bencjacobs) February 23, 2018
