President Donald Trump lashed out at CBS’ News reporter Weijia Jiang after she questioned his praise of U.S. efforts to provide widespread COVID-19 testing.

During a press conference on coronavirus on Monday, Trump suddenly ended the meeting after lashing out at two reporters for asking him a “nasty question.”

When prompted to speak, CBS’ news reporter Weijia Jiang questioned Trump’s depiction of the U.S. as a global leader in widespread testing. “You said many times that the U.S. is doing far better than any other country when it comes to testing. Why does that matter? Why is this a global competition to you if everyday Americans are still losing their lives and we’re still seeing more cases every day?”

Annoyed at the question, Trump rebuked Jiang. “Well, they’re losing their lives everywhere in world. And maybe that’s a question you should ask China. Don’t ask me. Ask China that question, ok? When you ask them that question, you may get a very unusual answer.”

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He, then, tried to dodge the question, moving on to another reporter.

But Jiang, who was born in China but grew up in West Virginia, intervened. “Sir, why are you saying that to me, specifically, that I should ask China?” she said.

“I’m not saying it specifically to anybody,” Trump responded. “I’m saying it to anybody that would ask a nasty question like that.”

“That’s not a nasty question,” Jiang added.

CNN’s Kaitlan Collins was right behind her, and tried to get a word in edgeways. “You pointed to me. I have two questions, Mr. President,” she said.

But Trump had already become infuriated. “Next, please,” he said. “I asked you, and you didn’t respond, and now I’m calling on the young lady in the back.”

Collins clarified that she was going to let her colleague finish, but Trump suddenly called it quits.

“Ladies and gentlemen, thank you very much. Appreciated,” the president said as walked out unexpectedly.

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Antonio Clibrizzi

Article by Antonio Clibrizzi