This afternoon, Donald Trump addressed reporters in a rare solo news conference. He was there to speak about his revamped NAFTA agreement, which is now called the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement, because it wouldn’t be a Trump deal if it weren’t basically the same as the original, just renamed and signed at the last minute so he could brand himself a hero for “saving” the thing he was the sole threat to in the first place.
Late last night, my deadline, I made a wonderful new sandwich by adding Lettuce and Tomato to Bacon and some bread. I’m calling it the LTB! https://t.co/g9rpDAVhbp
— Kevin M. Kruse (@KevinMKruse) October 1, 2018
But it was Trump’s interactions with those reporters, maybe more than the not-NAFTA news itself, that’s gotten attention. First, there was this bizarre interaction with reporter Cecilia Vega. He mocked her for being in “a state of shock” that he called on her. She replied that she wasn’t, and he decided to fix that by making a joke about her “not thinking” as his response.
Trump, after calling on a reporter: “She’s shocked that I picked her. It’s like in a state of shock.”
Reporter: “I’m not, thank you Mr. President.”
Trump: “That’s OK, I know you’re not thinking, you never do.”
Reporter. “I’m sorry?”
Trump: “No, go ahead. Go ahead.” pic.twitter.com/3SmeZOrMfD
— BuzzFeed News (@BuzzFeedNews) October 1, 2018
In true misogynist fashion, it seems he was too consumed by displaying his superiority to a woman to realize that he was only making himself look like an idiot, unwittingly mocking himself for mishearing “I’m not, thank you” as “I’m not thinking.”
As you can see in that clip, when Vega finally did manage to ask him a question, he refused to answer it. She asked him about reports that the White House is limiting the scope of the FBI’s investigation into Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh, to which he replied, “What does that have to do with trade?” He said he’d be fine answering the question but wanted to focus on trade first, even though that is 100% not how news conferences work.
A news conference means you get to ask whatever question you want to ask. #FirstAmendment
— Cecilia Vega (@CeciliaVega) October 1, 2018
After a few questions, he still wouldn’t address the subject and talked down to the next reporter who brought it up, Kaitlan Collins. (Yup, also a woman. It’s almost like he has a serious problem with women or something.) He actually waved his finger at her, telling her, “That’s not nice.” He still can’t understand that it’s not every woman’s job to be nice to him.
More. Trump shouts down a different woman reporter as she tries to ask him a question about Kavanaugh.
“Don’t do that. That’s not nice,” Trump tells her while wagging his finger.
— Shannon Watts (@shannonrwatts) October 1, 2018
By the way, he does not do this to male reporters when they ask about Kavanaugh.
But wait, there’s more! This next reporter isn’t even asking about Kavanaugh, but about gun control. Still, she is a woman challenging him, so he feels it necessary to cut her off and wave her away.
Again. Trump cuts off a woman reporter who tries to ask him why it’s taken over a year for his administration to prohibit bump stocks after promising he would in the wake of Las Vegas.
H/t @atrupar – follow him for best video highlights every day.
— Shannon Watts (@shannonrwatts) October 1, 2018
Also, a big “fuck you” to every man standing behind him.
Please note the mostly (white) men standing behind the President in the Rose Garden who laugh and smirk as he insults the women who are trying to do their jobs. #MondayMotivaton pic.twitter.com/6iB7af2MPP
— Shannon Watts (@shannonrwatts) October 1, 2018
(image: Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)
Want more stories like this? Become a subscriber and support the site!
—The Mary Sue has a strict comment policy that forbids, but is not limited to, personal insults toward anyone, hate speech, and trolling.—
