Around 12:15 p.m., ABC, NBC, and FOX offered network special reports as Pres. Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanhayu met in the East Room for remarks, and a news conference. CBS did not offer a special report, but its streaming network CBSN carried the newser, as did the cable news networks.
At his news conference on Monday with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Trump called on a reporter from WJLA, the ABC affiliate in Washington, D.C. which is owned by Sinclair Broadcasting. The second question went to a reporter from the Daily Caller. Both outlets have a reputation for leaning right. And with the future of National Security Adviser Michael Flynn hanging over the room, the President called on reporters who might–and ultimately did–stay away from asking about Flynn, who resigned later that night.
At today’s news conference, David Brody of CBN got the first question and asked about the former National Security Adviser, as well as the Iranian deal, and Israeli settlements.
“Michael Flynn, Gen. Flynn is a wonderful man,” said Trump. “I think he has been treated very, very unfairly by the media. As I call it, the fake media in many cases.” Trump continued:
I think in addition to that, things are being leaked. It’s criminal action, a criminal act, and it’s been going on for a long time before me, but now it’s really going on. People are trying to cover up for a terrible loss that the democrats had under Hillary Clinton.
Katie Pavlich of Townhall got the second U.S. media question. She asked about what compromises would need to be made in order to get to a bigger Middle East Peace deal. “Very interesting question,” Trump said adding that both sides need to show flexibility.
The second question from an Israeli journalist included a question about “a sharp rise in anti-Semitic incidents across the United States,” since Trump’s election.
After talking about his electoral college victory, Trump said he has many Jewish friends, as well as “a daughter who happens to be here right now, a son-in-law, and three beautiful grandchildren. I think that you are going to see a lot different United States of America over the next three, four, eight years. I think a lot of good things are happening,” said Trump.
The news conference concluded as the president and prime minister left the podium at 12:42 p.m. ET, just as CNN’s Jim Acosta asked Trump if he would answer questions “about your associate’s contacts with the Russians during the campaign.”
I tried
— Jim Acosta (@Acosta) February 15, 2017