President Donald Trump told a CNN reporter to be quiet during a White House press briefing after she asked about North Korea [1, 2].
The encounter highlights the tension between the administration and the press regarding the U.S. diplomatic approach toward Pyongyang and the scaling back of regional military commitments.
During the briefing on Monday, CNN reporter Kristen Holmes asked whether the president was doing favors for North Korean leader Kim Jong Un [1, 2]. Trump said, "Quiet! Quiet! Quiet! Quiet!" [1]. He said to Holmes, "You're a loud, boisterous person. Be quiet" [2].
The exchange followed a Sunday announcement regarding a reduction of joint military exercises between the U.S. and South Korea [1]. Trump said his "very good relationship" with Kim Jong Un made him unhappy about continuing the drills [1, 3].
Some reports indicate Trump framed his response as a rebuke of "fake news" while emphasizing his personal rapport with the North Korean leader as justification for the military changes [3]. The president did not provide further specifics on the extent of the reduction in exercises during the exchange.
The briefing took place in Washington, D.C., where the president frequently interacts with the press corps. The interaction with Holmes was a focal point of the event, as the president reacted to the suggestion that his foreign policy decisions were based on personal favors [1, 3].
“"Quiet! Quiet! Quiet! Quiet!"”
The administration's decision to reduce joint military exercises with South Korea signals a shift toward personal diplomacy with North Korea over traditional deterrence. By prioritizing a relationship with Kim Jong Un, the U.S. risks creating friction with regional allies who rely on those exercises for security, while the president's reaction to the press suggests a low tolerance for scrutiny regarding the motivations behind these policy shifts.
