On Monday, things got tense between White House Press Secretary Kayleigh McEnany and the White House press corps after a number of reporters asked about President Donald Trump’s recent comments about NASCAR and the Confederate flag.
Trump criticized NASCAR’s call to ban the Confederate flag in a tweet on Monday. And, he also blasted Bubba Wallace after the FBI concluded that the sport’s only black driver was not the victim of a hate crime.
Press Sec. Kayleigh McEnany: "I was asked probably 12 questions on the Confederate flag… I didn't receive one question on the deaths in this country this weekend. I didn't receive one question about New York City shootings doubling for the third straight week." pic.twitter.com/3vImFpdlhA
— The Hill (@thehill) July 6, 2020
McEnany Torches White House Press Corps
“I’ve explained to you. This is I guess the fourth attempt, but we’ll try it again,” McEnany said to a reporter. “In aggregate, what [Trump] was pointing out is this rush to judgement to immediately say that there is a hate crime as happened in this case, as happened with Jussie Smollett, as happened with the Covington Catholic boys.”
“We should not have this rush to judgement, knee-jerk reaction before the facts come out,” McEnany continued. “The FBI did their job and determined there was no hate crime.”
https://twitter.com/NoelJTom/status/1280200138485628930
‘I’m not going to answer a question a sixth time’
When the reporter wouldn’t stop asking questions about Trump’s flag tweet, McEnany pointed to another reporter after saying, “I’m not going to answer a question a sixth time.”
Last month, NASCAR announced that they would prohibit Confederate flags from their events within the context of protests taking place across the country against racism. A rope allegedly shaped like a noose was found in Wallace’s garage shortly after NASCAR’s announcement.
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.@jonkarl: Does Trump think it was a mistake for Nascar to ban the Confederate flag?
KAYLEIGH McENANY: "You're focusing on one word at the very bottom of a tweet. That's completely taking it out of context." pic.twitter.com/NDlgtZyUih
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) July 6, 2020
FBI Concluded No hate Crime Was Committed
An FBI investigation concluded that Wallace was not the victim of a hate crime, and that the controversial rope had actually been present in the garage since October 2019.
President Trump tweeted Monday, “Has @BubbaWallace apologized to all of those great NASCAR drivers & officials who came to his aid, stood by his side, & were willing to sacrifice everything for him, only to find out that the whole thing was just another HOAX? That & Flag decision has caused lowest ratings EVER!”
Has @BubbaWallace apologized to all of those great NASCAR drivers & officials who came to his aid, stood by his side, & were willing to sacrifice everything for him, only to find out that the whole thing was just another HOAX? That & Flag decision has caused lowest ratings EVER!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 6, 2020