The founder of an African news site has accused White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre of ‘discrimination’ after repeatedly clashing with her in the briefing room. Ateba has repeatedly sparred with Jean-Pierre and her predecessor Jen Psaki, accusing them of ignoring reporters in the ‘back of the room’ — a motley crew representing smaller news outlets without assigned seats at briefings. With President Joe Biden’s three-day summit with 49 African leaders upcoming, Ateba believes he is long overdue to be called on for a question, as the representative of an African news site. However, Jean-Pierre has been previously warned about his ‘disruptive’ behavior and was threatened with expulsion from the White House Correspondents Association after twice interrupting Psaki’s last press secretary briefing in May.
On 12/9/2022, Today News Africa reporter Simon Ateba asked White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre, “Can you take a question on the U.S.-Africa Summit?”
Reporter: Thank you, Karine —
MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Go ahead.
Ateba: Can you take a question on the U.S.-Africa Summit?
MS. JEAN-PIERRE: I — go ahead. Go ahead.
Reporter: Karine, you’ve —
Ateba: Karine, why is it so hard to take a question on the U.S.-Africa Summit, when the President is meeting 50 African leaders — the biggest gathering of leaders of his administration? Why is it hard for you to give me a question?
MS. JEAN-PIERRE: It is not hard. I’ve answered — I —
Ateba: No, it is hard, because it’s been months. You don’t —
MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Would you let me answer the question? Or are you going to —
Ateba: I don’t want to yell, but you don’t give us (inaudible).
MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Okay.
(Cross-talk.)
MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Okay. I’m trying to answer your question. Go ahead, sir. Go ahead.
Reporter: Thanks. I have two —
Ateba: Can I — can I ask a question?
MS. JEAN-PIERRE: I just tried. You wouldn’t let me. Go ahead.
Reporter: I have two quick questions —
Ateba: No, but can I ask you a question?
MS. JEAN-PIERRE: I just tried, and you would not let me, sir —
Reporter: I have two —
MS. JEAN-PIERRE: — so your colleague is going to ask a question. Go ahead.
Ateba: So let — so let me ask you a question on the U.S.-Africa Summit.
MS. JEAN-PIERRE: No, I just — I literally just tried to answer your question. You shut me down. So now your colleague is going to —
Ateba: Okay, so let me ask the question first, before you answer it.
MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Okay. Thanks, everybody. I’ll see you tomorrow.
While television journalists in the front rows can expect to ask questions every day, those sitting further back – or coming armed with awkward questions – often feel hard done by when their raised hands are ignored. Ateba is known as one of the loudest members of the briefing room’s awkward squad.
On 12/8/2022, Fox News reporter Peter Doocy asked White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre, “And just one other topic. You’ve said a few times that you really can’t talk about communications between the Biden campaign and Twitter. Who is telling you that that’s off limits?
MS. JEAN-PIERRE: I’ve already had that conversation with you — with your colleague, I believe, yesterday. I’ve already addressed this multiple times this week, so I don’t have anything more to add. Again, I — we’ve — we’ve litigated this all week. Don’t have anything to add.
Doocy: But it’s not a — so, not a campaign question, though, an administration question —
Reporter: Karine, in the back, please.
MS. JEAN-PIERRE: I’m going to the back. I’m going to the back. I’m going to the back. Go ahead.
Reporter: Yeah, thanks, Karine. On a different topic —
Reporter: That’s not the back. That’s the middle.
Reporter: — so the incoming —
MS. JEAN-PIERRE: We’ll keep — we’ll keep going.
Reporter: The incoming — so —
Reporter: Also, I’m the most hungover in the room, as you promised yesterday. (Laughter.)
MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Oh, are you? (Laughs.) Okay. I’m coming back.
Reporter: My head is killing me. Wow.
MS. JEAN-PIERRE: You’re right. I said that I would go to the most hungover person in the room. You’re right. (Laughter.) Go ahead. That was the promise I made last night. You’re absolutely right. Go ahead.
On 12/9/2022, a reporter followed up with the hungover topic, KJP replied, I don’t drink, I don’t drink.
https://facebook.com/HygoNewsUSA/videos/562189039058948/
Jean-Pierre storms out of briefing room; Pick most hungover person in the room; My mom is not watching