Fox News paused its live coverage of a White House press conference on Monday as President Donald Trump erupted at a CNN reporter during a ceremony in the Oval Office.
President clashes with CNN reporter
Trump, taking questions from the press, singled out CNN's Kristen Holmes, repeatedly ordering her to "be quiet" and branding her a "fake reporter" in front of a 16-year-old boy. The exchange unfolded as the president welcomed lifeguard Ryder Williams to the White House after he rescued 10-year-old Nathaniel Rai from powerful waves off the California coast last month.
Trump opened the event to questions before turning on Holmes. "Quiet. Quiet. Quiet. You're very disrespectful in front of this young man, okay? Don't you find her disrespectful? He understands," Trump said, before asking the youngster if he also found the reporter disrespectful.
Reporter's questions dismissed
When Holmes attempted to ask a follow-up question about South Korea, Trump cut her off: "Who are you with?" to which she replied "CNN..." Trump responded, "You're a loud, boisterous person. You're a fake reporter and you report fake news." He repeated, "Be quiet. Be quiet. You're a fake reporter and you report fake news."
When another journalist raised reports of deteriorating conditions on the USS Abraham Lincoln after it was unable to dock for nine months, Trump dismissed the complaints, saying, "It was fake news reporting from CNN."
The ceremony honored Ryder, who rescued Rai after the boy was swept about 15 yards (13.7m) offshore. Trump had announced he would give Ryder a "High Civilian Honour" for the rescue.
