Trump Attacks Jeff Mason at White House Photo Op for ‘Wrong’ Reporting — Which Was Completely Accurate
President Donald Trump attacked Reuters White House correspondent Jeff Mason over reporting he claimed was “wrong” — but which was in fact completely accurate.
On Thursday afternoon, Trump met with Norway Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre and Finance Minister Jens Stoltenberg, along with a raft of cabinet-level administration officials.
The press pool was allowed into the Cabinet Room for remarks and a few questions, during which Mason got in the last query before the pool was ushered out:
JEFF MASON: I have a question on China. Can you clarify with whom the U.S. is speaking with China? They’re saying it’s “fake news” that trade talks are happening.
PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP: Well, they had a meeting this morning, so—.
JEFF MASON: Who is “they?’
PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP: I can’t tell you–. It doesn’t matter who “they” is. We may reveal it later, but they had meetings this morning. And we’ve been meeting with China.
And so I think you have, Jeff, as usual. I think have your reporting wrong.
JEFF MASON: I was saying what China said.
PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP: Thank you very much. We’ll see you. We’ll you inside. Thank you.
Trump’s trade war with China is a major component of his tariff policies, and as Mason noted, the Chinese government has indeed publicly refuted the notion that they’re trying to cut a deal with the U.S. — and called it “fake news”:
When asked if the US and China have started trade negotiations – a question prompted by assertions from Trump that Washington has been in contact with officials from Beijing – Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson Guo Jiakun said “all of this is fake news” in a press conference on Thursday.
The Ministry of Commerce echoed the sentiment in a conference held the same day.
“If the US truly wants to resolve the issue, it should heed rational voices from the international community and domestic stakeholders, completely abolish all unilateral tariffs on China, and find a solution through equal dialogue,” said ministry spokesman He Yadong.
Watch above via Pool.
