If there's one thing President Trump can't stand during this national crisis, it's hard questions from reporters, especially women of color.
After Trump told reporter Yamiche Alcindor to "be nice" and not "threatening" before asking her question at a recent briefing, former National Security Advisor Susan Rice tweeted her support.
She went on to say:
"Pathetic when insecure men can't stomach strong black women."
During that briefing, Alcindor asked Trump:
"You've said repeatedly that you think that some of the equipment that governors are requesting they don't actually need. You said New York might not need 30,000 ..."
Which Trump interrupted by saying:
"I didn't say that."
Trump has repeatedly said that.
Just last week, he told Sean Hannity:
"I have a feeling that a lot of the numbers that are being said in some areas are just bigger than they're going to be. I don't believe you need 40,000 or 30,000 ventilators."
"You know, you go into major hospitals, sometimes they'll have two ventilators, and now all of a sudden they're saying, 'Can we order 30,000 ventilators?'"
To answer Alcindor's legitimate question, Trump also remarked:
"Why don't you people act... why don't you act in a little more positive, it's always trying to get you, get you, get you. And you know what? That's why nobody trusts the media anymore...Be nice, don't be threatening, don't be threatening, be nice."
Alcindor later tweeted her feelings about the exchange.
Of course, Trump's demeaning demands aren't stopping Alcindor from doing her work.
Meanwhile, the hashtag #WeLoveYamiche began trending on Twitter as the internet lined up to support her.
President Trump's desire for praise won't stop the dedicated reporters of our country from getting the facts.
The book American Blindspot: Race, Class, Religion, and the Trump Presidency is available here.
Jane Rosenberg
Jane Rosenberg
