President Donald Trump had a hostile encounter with ABC News Senior White House correspondent Cecilia Vega during a news conference Monday. During a Rose Garden speech about a proposed White House trade deal between the U.S., Mexico and Canada, the president called on Vega to ask a question. "She's shocked that I picked on her. She's like in a state of shock," he joked. Vega answered "I'm not, thank you," to which the president accused the reporter of not thinking. "That's okay, I know you're not thinking, you never do," he appeared to say. Asked about the Kavanaugh FBI investigation by @CeciliaVega, President Donald Trump says, "let's do that later." "What does that have to do with trade? I don't mind answering the question but, you know, I'd like to to do the trade questions," he adds https://t.co/qnfZePV0Mp pic.twitter.com/IYeQeCltsf — ABC News Politics (@ABCPolitics) October 1, 2018 Vega next attempted to ask a question about Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh, and the president refused. He'd talk about Kavanaugh "later," he said. "How about talking about trade, and then we'll get to that." After asking a question about trade and then pressing once more on Kavanaugh, a White House aide took away her microphone. The president did eventually come back to Vega for her Kavanaugh question, but when she asked a follow-up, he told her "you don't understand what I'm saying, you do understand you just won't report it that way." Vega later tweeted about the president's attempts to push her question. "A news conference means you get to ask whatever question you want to ask #FirstAmendment," she wrote. In another tense interaction during the press conference, Trump shouted down CNN reporter Kaitlan Collins as she attempted to ask a further question about Kavanaugh. "Now that you've answered several questions on trade, I'd like to turn to Judge Kavanaugh," she said. Trump interrupted her question and tried to move on to another reporter. "Don't do that. Excuse me. Do you have a question on trade? We'll do one or two more questions on trade," he said to Collins. "Don't do that. That's not nice, and besides that, somebody is before you." A White House aide removed her microphone. Later, Trump returned to Collins, but cut her off once more when she attempted to follow up on her question. "You know what, you've really had enough. You've had enough," he said. Former White House Director of Communications and Director of Communications for the Hillary Clinton 2016 presidential campaign later weighed in on Trump's comments, tweeting that, "intimidation like that is last ditch method from men like to maintain control over women. And it won't work." Trump did end up commenting extensively on accusations of Kavanaugh's sexual assaults and the FBI investigation into them. "What he's gone through over the last three weeks is incredible," he said. "It's unfair to him at this point." He also said that Kavanaugh did have "difficulty" with drinking, but that he seems to have since overcome that difficulty. Kavanaugh has faced allegations of sexual misconduct by three women, Christine Blasey Ford, Deborah Ramirez and Julie Swetnick. He denies all allegations.<doc-sep>Trump to ABC's Cecilia Vega: 'I Know You're Not Thinking, You Never Do' By Dustin Rowles | Politics | October 1, 2018 | Trump held a press conference today in the Rose Garden to ostensibly talk about this new trade deal he struck with Mexico and Canada, but as expected, questions about Brett Kavanaugh — and Trump’s deranged thinking — took up most of the time. There were the usual array of lies, misleading statements, and insults, plus the expected Trump monologuing. While he said plenty in this news conference, I don’t want to talk about anything else, because it would shift focus away from this one exchange with ABC’s Cecilia Vega, which says everything you need to know about how Trump thinks of women. Everything. Trump to woman reporter: "She's shocked I picked her, she's in a state of shock” Reporter: “I'm not, thank you Mr. President” Trump: "I know you're not thinking, you never do” Reporter: "I'm sorry?" Trump: "Go ahead" This is institutionalized misogyny. pic.twitter.com/Y31GwISb4I — Shannon Watts (@shannonrwatts) October 1, 2018 What the hell? Meanwhile, the creepy smiles on the Republicans behind Trump never waver, a perfect reminder of the kind of entitled people elected and appointed to run this country. Compare the same to Kavanaugh’s deep disrespect for Senator Klobuchar. Says it all, doesn’t it? In the same press conference, he also shouted down CNN’s Kaitlin Collins for not asking the question he wanted her to ask. Trump shouts down @kaitlancollins as she tries to ask him a question about Kavanaugh!!! She asks it anyway. He won't answer. pic.twitter.com/05AIvBa38c — Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) October 1, 2018 ← Banker's Wife Fires Black Nanny After Accidentally Sending Her a Racist Text Message | Hulu's 'Runaways' Get A Secret Hideout And Maybe A Skrull In Season 2 → Dustin is the founder and co-owner of Pajiba. You may email him here, follow him on Twitter, or listen to his weekly TV podcast, Podjiba. Header Image Source: ABC<doc-sep>The White House corrected the official transcript from a Monday press conference prior to accurately reflect President Donald Trump's comments toward ABC reporter Cecilia Vega. The president on Monday suggested Vega wasn't "thinking" and "never" does during the press conference. The White House transcript initially suggested Trump said "thanking," not "thinking." The White House on Tuesday corrected the official transcript from a press conference the day prior to accurately reflect President Donald Trump's comments toward ABC reporter Cecilia Vega. Trump and Vega on Monday had an awkward exchange during the press conference as she attempted to ask him a question about sexual assault allegations against Supreme Court nominee Judge Brett Kavanaugh. When the president called upon Vega, he suggested she was "shocked" to have been picked for a question. Vega responded, "I'm not. Thank you, Mr. President." Trump replied: "That's OK. I know you're not thinking. You never do." But the White House transcript initially suggested Trump said "I know you're not thanking" instead of "thinking." It was corrected Tuesday morning. Trump initially refused to answer Vega's question on Kavanaugh, though he later called on her again to address the topic. After the press conference, Vega tweeted, "A news conference means you get to ask whatever question you want to ask. #FirstAmendment." Trump has frequently butted heads with the press and has often referred to the media as "Fake News" and the "enemy" of the American people.<doc-sep>
It's probably no secret to most that President Donald Trump isn't too happy with the press. From saying every outlet (other than a few of his personal favorites) disseminates "fake news" to repeatedly calling the press the "enemy of the people," Trump isn't shy about where he stands with journalists. But yet, somehow, he's still able to shock us all by just how far the depths of his disdain for the media can go. Take, for example, on Monday, when Trump told Cecilia Vega, the senior White House correspondent for ABC News (and winner of multiple Emmys) that she "never" thinks. While giving a press conference in the White House Rose Garden to discuss the new trade agreement with Canada and Mexico, Trump, answering questions from reporters, called upon Vega. A brief pause followed as Vega stood up to grab the microphone. At that moment, Trump said with a smile, “She’s shocked that I picked her. Like in a state of shock.” Vega quickly responded, “I’m not, thank you, Mr. President.” It appeared Trump may have misunderstood her, and replied, “That’s OK, I know you’re not thinking, you never do.” Vega, a consummate professional replied, “I’m sorry?” and continued on with her question. Even then, however, Trump continued to be dismissive. Vega asked the President about the ongoing FBI investigation into allegations Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh, however, all Trump wanted to do was discuss trade. He later returned to Vega to answer her question. Vega tweeted after the news conference, "A news conference means you get to ask whatever question you want to ask. #FirstAmendment." However, other journalists were quick to jump on social media to defend Vega and note that her line of questioning was entirely in reason. Story continues "I very sincerely hope the president does indeed to @CeciliaVega to answer her respectful and entirely appropriate question on Brett Kavanaugh," Hallie Jackson, chief White House correspondent for NBC News tweeted. "The White House, and POTUS, know they can’t dictate the content of questions. And the pres. has often taken off-topic Qs before." "Wow. @CeciliaVega asks Trump about limiting FBI investigation into Kavanaugh allegations," Karen Travers, an ABC News reporter also covering the White House shared. "He doesn't want to talk that, says he wants to talk trade. She follows w/Q about if it will pass Congress. Pushes again on Kavanaugh, still doesnt want to answer. WH aide GRABS mic from her." And as Vega's ABC producer Alisa Wiersema shared, Trump apparently missed her extensive coverage of the trade deal already: "Took a post-GMA nap after a morning of helping @CeciliaVega report on trade, and woke up to this exchange," she wrote. "Seems like the President didn’t tune in to see her already having covered his trade deal extensively today." Maybe next time we can hope for better. Maybe. Related Content: Donald Trump's History of Calling Women 'Dogs' Just Got Longer With New Omarosa Tweet Donald Trump Takes Aim at the 'Me Too Generation' at Montana Rally