The world leaders discussed refugee policy, border security and international trade. But one issue was notably absent during a joint press conference with President Donald Trump and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau: the controversy surrounding National Security Adviser Michael Flynn.
Flynn has been under pressure for reportedly speaking to the Russian ambassador to the United States about sanctions before Trump was inaugurated. Flynn’s future in the White House now appears unclear.
The White House picked two journalists to ask questions at the press conference, neither of whom asked about Trump’s confidence in Flynn.
Scott Thurman – the chief political correspondent for WJLA, Washington, D.C.’s ABC affiliate – asked the President about “notable and philosophical differences between yourself and Prime Minister Trudeau” on issues including terrorism and immigration, but did not offer any specific question.
And Kaitlan Collins, the White House correspondent for the Daily Caller, asked Trump: “What do you see as the most important national security matters facing us?”
Some journalists shouted questions about Flynn as Trump and Trudeau left their lecterns, to no avail. Following the press conference, many reporters expressed disappointment that one of the dominant stories of the day didn’t come up.
“What we got from the reporters the White House hand-chose, a Daily Caller reporter and a Sinclair Broadcasting reporter, were two– What you could call softball questions, the second one more so, where the reporter asked ‘What is the biggest national security threat a month into this administration?'” MSNBC’s Katy Tur said on air after the press conference.
Yahoo’s Hunter Walker, and Time’s Zeke Miller, reported from inside the East Room:
The White House picked the two reporters who asked questions– @ScottThuman and @kaitlancollins https://t.co/MWRD5EGfth
— Hunter Walker (@hunterw) February 13, 2017
Reporters now asking the two who asked questions. @ScottThuman says he wasn’t told he’d get a question but was advised to attend
— Hunter Walker (@hunterw) February 13, 2017
.@ScottThuman said he did not discuss Flynn with the White House before asking his question
— Hunter Walker (@hunterw) February 13, 2017
Hearing reporters gripe about the lack of Flynn questions now: “I’m just embarrassed for us. That was really embarrassing.”
— Hunter Walker (@hunterw) February 13, 2017
.@kaitlancollins, Daily Caller reporter who asked question, quickly left as others asked who she was with. “She ran away,” one reporter said
— Hunter Walker (@hunterw) February 13, 2017
She responded: “I’m still on White House grounds, actually,” and later added in response:
@hunterw I left a room when an even was over. The audacity!
— Kaitlan Collins (@kaitlancollins) February 13, 2017
I am also wearing heels today, and don’t run even when I’m not. Fake news! https://t.co/9N2MOpGuDL
— Kaitlan Collins (@kaitlancollins) February 13, 2017
OH in the line to leave East Room: “Well, Sean Spicer’s going to have a crowd outside his office.”
— Hunter Walker (@hunterw) February 13, 2017
This was my best attempt to make sure someone asked about Flynn pic.twitter.com/d3hrz0jbaL
— Hunter Walker (@hunterw) February 13, åç2017
Trump walks off ignoring multiple shouted questions about Flynn
— Zeke Miller (@ZekeJMiller) February 13, 2017
Sadly, we still don’t know the answer to this https://t.co/L277NTRYtr
— Zeke Miller (@ZekeJMiller) February 13, 2017
