The White House seems to have edited out footage of Today News Africa reporter Simon Ateba confronting Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre Monday with a series of comments that prompted her to threaten to end the briefing altogether.
Ateba again accused Jean-Pierre of refusing to call on him for any questions for months, after the Press Sceretary had claimed that the Biden Administration is “committed to freedom of the press.”
“You’ve been discriminating against me for the past nine months,” Ateba charged, much to the chagrin of the other reporters at the briefing.
“Stop. How is she discriminating?” another reporter intervened, to which Ateba responded “She called on you, she gave you a few questions. Please, allow me to do my job and ask my question.”
Jean-Pierre tried to ignore Ateba and go to aq different reporter for a question, but he refused to be passed over.
Jean-Pierre then stated “If this continues, we’re gonna end the press briefing. If this continues – you’re being incredibly rude. You’re being incredibly rude. You’re talking over your colleagues.”
Watch:
Simon Ateba is back at it again in the press briefing. pic.twitter.com/4BXTT4gfbw
— Greg Price (@greg_price11) June 26, 2023
When the stream was uploaded by the White House, the exchange was gone:
The White House has edited out every interaction between KJP and @simonateba from their YouTube livestream. pic.twitter.com/QxAgEWFItc
— Kevin McMahon (@Kevin__McMahon) June 26, 2023
Ateba responded on Twitter, asserting that the Press Secretary is a hypocrite for citing freedom of the press but refusing to let him ask any questions.
On what some are calling the so-called chaos at the White House today, I was just trying to ask a question. It's a pity what's going on. How can @PressSec Karine Jean-Pierre preach about the freedom of the press when she is violating the First Amendment many died to protect? May… pic.twitter.com/wOBsOv6GwI
— Simon Ateba (@simonateba) June 26, 2023
The reporter also alleged that he was barred from attending an appearance by Joe Biden, and says this happens “99.9 percent of the time.”
Because you ask real questions.
— Mitzi (@mitzi1946) June 26, 2023
Ateba has continually charged that he is being denied access despite regular requests to resolve the matter.
Video: Reporter Shouts At White House Press Sec. For Promoting TV Show Instead Of Taking Questions
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