The chaos at the White House press briefing last week was a disgrace. Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre allowed the cast of “Ted Lasso” to hijack the briefing and then proceeded to target one reporter for daring to challenge her.
The reporter in question, Simon Ateba of Today News Africa, questioned why he hadn’t been called on in seven months and accused the press secretary of making “a mockery of the First Amendment”.
Ateba’s outburst was completely inappropriate, but it was understandable given his long-running frustration with the press secretary. She has refused to meet with him until 2024 and it appears she’s dodging him in an effort to avoid tough questions.
In response to his outburst, several members of the press corps yelled at Ateba to stop while Jean-Pierre remained silent and allowed the chaos to escalate. It was only when AP reporter Zeke Miller apologized to her on behalf of the press corps that she finally spoke up, scolding Ateba for his lack of decorum.
The entire incident was a shameful display and a reflection of the Biden Administration’s attitude towards the press. The White House press corps is supposed to be a check on the government, but this administration has made it perfectly clear that it will not tolerate tough questions.
This administration has been incredibly friendly to the media, allowing them to attend events, ask questions, and even invite Hollywood stars to the White House.
But, at the same time, they are also quick to silence dissent and punish reporters who ask tough questions. This incident is another example of the Biden Administration’s disregard for the First Amendment and its attempts to control the narrative.
The press secretary should be accountable to the American people and not be allowed to pick and choose which reporters she will allow to ask questions. The press corps should be allowed to ask questions without fear of retribution, and the White House should be held to the same standards as any other branch of government.
Do I think Ateba conducted himself in a professional manner? No, but I don’t think this White House does either. They do cherry-pick questions and censor valid concerns. So it’s easy to see why Ateba is so frustrated.
