Media rips Trump for taking no questions at ‘news conference’

Members of the media criticized President Trump on Twitter after he didn’t take questions at what he said would be a “news conference” on new economic numbers released Friday.

“GREAT GDP numbers just released,” Trump tweeted in a reference to gross domestic product after the Commerce Department said the economy had grown by 4.1 percent between April and June. “Will be having a news conference soon!”

GREAT GDP numbers just released. Will be having a news conference soon!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 27, 2018

But at the White House, Trump didn’t take any questions.

“A ‘news conference’ means you actually take questions,” tweeted CNN executive producer Jason Morrell. “What you just did, was a speech… a very LONG one. In the meantime, we’ll keep waiting for an actual ‘news conference’ where actual reporters are allowed to ask actual questions.”

Dear President Trump,

A “news conference” means you actually take questions.

What you just did, was a speech… a very LONG one.

In the meantime, we’ll keep waiting for an actual “news conference” where actual reporters are allowed to ask actual questions.

Yours,
Journalists https://t.co/9Y0I70utAb

— . (@CNNJason) July 27, 2018

Questions were shouted at Trump as he walked away from the podium. MSNBC’s Kirsten Welker could be heard audibly asking Trump a question about whether his former lawyer Michael Cohen was telling the truth in claiming that Trump knew in advance about the Trump Tower meeting between campaign officials and a Russian lawyer.

Actually a “news conference” means questions and answers. Different from making a statement to the press. https://t.co/hvfcmvGoDo

— Mark Knoller (@markknoller) July 27, 2018

Surprise! Trump has left without taking any questions at his “news conference.”

— Daniel Dale (@ddale8) July 27, 2018

Trump ends what he described as a “news conference” without taking any questions from reporters.

— Cathleen Decker (@cathleendecker) July 27, 2018

Pres Trump goes back into the White House without taking questions from reporters – many were shouted as he turned and walked away https://t.co/60rK86lA59

— Karen Travers (@karentravers) July 27, 2018

That was NOT “a news conference.” Trump took NO questions, walking away as reporter shouted to ask if ex-lawyer Cohen is lying (that Trump knew in advance of June ’16 Trump Tower meeting with a Kremlin-linked attorney). https://t.co/hpZgPS2E1h

— Jackie Calmes (@jackiekcalmes) July 27, 2018

Trump takes zero questions during his “news conference,” ignores shouted question from @kwelkernbc: “Mr. President, is Michael Cohen telling the truth?” https://t.co/qg2jMOjnZf

— Marina Fang (@marinafang) July 27, 2018

Trump has repeatedly clashed with the press — particularly CNN and NBC.

{mosads}At a recent joint press conference with U.K. Prime Minister Theresa May, Trump refused to take a question from CNN’s Jim Acosta, calling the network “fake news.”

And earlier this week, CNN correspondent Kaitlin Collins was banned from a press event at the White House after asking what White House deputy chief of staff for communications Bill Shine called “inappropriate” questions.

According to The Washington Post, Trump hasn’t had a press conference in 525 days.