‘It’s Anti-Democratic!’ New York Post Reporter Heckles Jean-Pierre as She Leaves Briefing Room Without Calling on Him Again

Karine Jean-Pierre was not showing any love for New York Post reporter Steve Nelson during her Tuesday afternoon press briefing.

The White House Press Secretary turned on her heel and left the podium with her usual, “All right, thanks, everybody,” as Nelson vociferously protested that she overlooked him — a complaint he’s made before.

“It’s anti-democratic to refuse questions from one of our country’s four largest newspapers, Karine!” Nelson scolded while Jean-Pierre slipped out of the briefing room.

Nelson’s attempt to win Jean-Pierre’s attention paled in comparison to nearly three weeks ago when he erupted at her.

“You haven’t called on me in two seasons, Karine,” Nelson claimed on Oct. 11.

“I’m not calling on you today,” she replied before pointing at another reporter and telling them to “go ahead.”

“You should be ashamed of that!” Nelson exclaimed, adding, “That shows disrespect to a free and independent media! It’s blacklisting one of the nation’s largest and most-read newspapers, Karine. That shows contempt for a free and independent press!”

“I’m calling on somebody I haven’t called on in a long time, as well,” Jean-Pierre said, finally silencing Nelson.

After that briefing, Nelson tweeted, “The @NYPost is our country’s oldest daily newspaper. We have 4th-largest print circulation and only NY Times has more web traffic. @PressSec last called on me in May, and on a colleague in July. The May exchange was also about press freedom issues.”

Jean-Pierre gave no explanation for skipping over Nelson, but the reporter has frequent written sharp critiques about the Biden administration.

In May, the White House banned Nelson from a presser with President Joe Biden himself, prompting a Post op-ed titled, “Why are White House staff afraid to let a Post reporter question Biden?”

The article postulated that White House staff were afraid Biden’s poll numbers could tank further “if he faces any tough questions.”

Watch the clip above via C-Span.