The tension in the Oval Office reached a boiling point today as President Donald Trump clashed with CNN White House correspondent Kristen Holmes during a Q&A session. The heated exchange erupted when Holmes attempted to press the President for more details regarding his recent communications with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.
Earlier in the event, Trump had casually mentioned that he had been in contact with the dictator through backchannels, though he remained tight-lipped on the specifics.
When another reporter asked how he would respond to critics who believe he is prioritizing the interests of North Korea over long-time U.S. allies by scaling back military exercises, Trump didn’t hold back.
“No, I’m making it much safer. You see, I am actually making it more safe. Kim Jong-un has always treated me with great respect. We met on numerous occasions — actually, two primary occasions — spoken and spent time; I understand him, he understands me. You’re doing war games — I get along with him. You know, he didn’t like Biden, he didn’t like Obama, he didn’t like anybody. But I get along with him very well. No, what I’m doing is making things safer,” he replied.
When Holmes tried to follow up by asking, “Did he ask you to scale back on those?”, the mood in the room shifted instantly.
“Quiet. You’re very disrespectful in front of this young man, okay? Don’t you find her disrespectful?” Trump asked, turning to Ryder Williams, a teenage lifeguard being honored at the event.
As Holmes attempted to continue her line of questioning, the President grew visibly agitated. “He understands. Quiet. Who are you with?” he fumed. When she identified herself as being with CNN, Trump immediately retorted, “Fake news.”
Despite Holmes’ attempts to persist, Trump didn’t let up, telling her, “You’re a loud, boisterous person. You’re faking news!” Even as she tried to clarify her intent, the President commanded her to “Be quiet!”
The exchange was cut short when another reporter shifted the focus to the USS Lincoln, asking if there was enough food on board. Trump seized the opportunity to fire back at the network once more, calling the reports “a CNN fake report.” He claimed that a retired admiral had approached him over the weekend to set the record straight.
“I’ve been on ships that are out there much longer than that, sir,” Trump quoted the admiral as saying, adding that the source noted the ship was “beautifully maintained and beautifully taken care of.” He concluded the outburst by doubling down on his stance: “Other people went out and found it to be true. It was fake news reporting from CNN.”