Trump abruptly ends press conference after back-and-forth with two reporters

The president walked out after exchanges with reporters from CBS and CNN

Published: May 11, 2020 7:58pm

Updated: May 11, 2020 9:21pm

President Trump swiftly ended a press conference on Monday after an exchange with two reporters.

CBS News's Weijia Jiang asked the president about why he frequently discusses the U.S. outperforming other nations on the issue of coronavirus testing. 

"Why does that matter? Why is this a global competition to you if every day Americans are still losing their lives and we're still seeing more cases every day?" she inquired.

"Well they're losing their lives everywhere in the world," Trump responded. "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."

After delivering his response the president called on CNN's Kaitlan Collins.

"Sir why are you saying that to me specifically, that I should ask China?" pressed Jiang, who describes herself on Twitter as a "Chinese born West Virginian."

"I'm telling you. I'm not saying it specifically to anybody," Trump said. "I'm saying it to anybody that would ask a nasty question like that."

Jiang argued that her question was "not a nasty question."

When CNN's Collins started to ask her question the president would not take her question.

Collins noted, "you called on me."

"I did, and you didn't respond, and now I'm calling on the young lady in the back," Trump said.

"I just wanted to let my colleague finish," Collins explained.

"OK. Ladies and gentlemen thank you very much, appreciate it, thank you very much," Trump said before walking out.

Watch the exchange below:

 

 

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