Kathy Griffin calls Trump a 'stupid racist piece of s***' after he says April Ryan is 'a loser' and 'nasty'
Twitter has veteran journalist April Ryan’s back after President Trump called her “a loser” and threatened to revoke her press credential, as he did with CNN’s Jim Acosta.
While leaving the White House on Friday for a trip to France, the president said other journalists might be in jeopardy of losing their credentials. “I haven’t made that decision, but it could be others also,” he told reporters. Speaking of Acosta, the president said: “He’s a very unprofessional man… I don’t think he’s a smart person, but he’s got a loud voice.”
Unprompted, Trump brought up Ryan, a CNN political analyst and Washington bureau chief for American Urban Radio Networks. At Wednesday’s combative press conference, he told her to “sit down” when she attempted to ask a question.
“The same thing with April Ryan,” Trump said. “I mean, you talk about somebody who’s a loser. She doesn’t know what the hell she’s doing. She gets publicity and then she gets a pay raise. … She’s very nasty.”
Ryan had this to say about it on Twitter.
I love this country and have the most respect for the Office of the President. I will continue to ask the questions that affect America, all of America.
— AprilDRyan (@AprilDRyan) November 9, 2018
She has the support of many fellow journalists, including Jim Acosta.
My friend @AprilDRyan is an incredible journalist and a wonderful person. If you got to know April as I know her, you would love her too. #1A
— Jim Acosta (@Acosta) November 9, 2018
Bernice King, the youngest child of Martin Luther King Jr. and Coretta Scott King, also reached out.
I love you, @AprilDRyan. Thank you for being courageous and asking difficult, necessary questions. Be encouraged.
— Be A King (@BerniceKing) November 9, 2018
Many on Twitter were quick to point out that Ryan is the third African-American female journalist Trump has gone after this week.
“Trump tells black women reporters they ask stupid questions because he’s a stupid racist piece of s***,” Kathy Griffin said in a tweet, also tagging PBS NewsHour’s Yamiche Alcindor, a Haitian-American, and CNN’s Abby Phillip, who is African-American.
On Wednesday, Trump scolded Alcindor for asking a “racist question.” (She asked whether describing himself as a “nationalist” on the campaign trail emboldened white nationalists.) And while talking with reporters today, Trump went after Phillip, who asked whether he wanted acting Attorney General Matt Whitaker “to rein in Robert Mueller” in regards to the Russia probe. Trump deemed it a “stupid question.”
45 is finishing off another week attacking Black women journalists. When will it end? @AprilDRyan @abbydphillip and @Yamiche are brilliant, respectful reporters who are committed to providing the American people with the truth, unlike the President. https://t.co/wugpYFl5S0
— Yvette D. Clarke (@RepYvetteClarke) November 9, 2018
Trump On Black People:
April Ryan: loser, nasty
Michelle Obama: just selling a book
Barack Obama: Kenyan
Maxine Waters: low IQ
LeBron James: dumb
Don Lemon: dumb
black countries: shitholes
black athletes: SOBs
Black tenants: unwelcome
Black workers: lazy
Central Park 5: guilty https://t.co/DPlrk0jy0C— Keith Boykin (@keithboykin) November 9, 2018
.@AprilDRyan & @abbydphillip & @Yamiche are 3 of the finest reporters in the @whca and custodians of the #FirstAmendment – dismissing them or their questions as dumb, racist or stupid says more about @realDonaldTrump and his #dogwhistle racism than it does about these fine women.
— Sheila Jackson Lee (@JacksonLeeTX18) November 9, 2018
This guy who said he has “tremendous respect for women and the many roles they serve” in really has a problem respecting black women journalist. This week alone, his words towards @abbydphillip @Yamiche and @AprilDRyan have been incredibly condescending & dismissive. https://t.co/LozgLzxjxg
— Eugene Scott (@Eugene_Scott) November 9, 2018
Trump: “The same thing with April Ryan…You talk about somebody that’s a loser. She doesn’t know what the hell she’s doing…She’s very nasty, and she shouldn’t be.”
– The president of the United States attacking a black reporter for doing her job pic.twitter.com/9UMw8jnih9
— Keith Boykin (@keithboykin) November 9, 2018
When @abbydphillip asked if he wants @MattWhitaker46 to rein in Mueller, @realdonaldtrump said it was a “stupid question.”
When @yamiche asked if he was emboldening white nationalists, he said it was a “racist question.”
He called @AprilDRyan a “loser.”There’s a pattern here. https://t.co/EB82COQKIT
— Alex Howard (@digiphile) November 9, 2018
The ladies of the View also mentioned on Friday’s show what the three journalists have “in common.”
THANK YOU @Sunny @JoyVBehar & @AnaNavarro for calling out @realDonaldTrump on @TheView for his attacks on journalists of color and for specifically disrespecting Women of Color like @AprilDRyan @AbbyDPhillip & @Yamiche! #TheView #CallHimOut #AprilRyan #AbbyPhillip #Yamiche
— Jawn Murray (@JawnMurray) November 9, 2018
Of course, not everyone agrees. Fox Business Network’s Trish Regan said it makes no sense that Ryan thinks it has anything to do with her gender or race. “He’s an EQUAL opportunist when it comes to putting out-of-line journalists in their place,” she tweeted. Ryan fired back with a response.
Umm now what did you say previously? Can you say @Yamiche @abbydphillip and @AprilDRyan? Redo your story! https://t.co/GibGv2TeWN
— AprilDRyan (@AprilDRyan) November 9, 2018
Read more from Yahoo Entertainment:
