Reporters gathered this afternoon in the White House briefing room where Sarah Sanders introduced President Trump, who brought with him border agents echoing his call for a wall:
President Trump is making a formal briefing from the White House press briefing room for the first time in his presidency. pic.twitter.com/CFzkFRPpS1
— NBC News (@NBCNews) January 3, 2019
Trump also congratulated Nancy Pelosi on becoming Speaker of the House:
President Donald Trump is speaking to the press in a surprise White House briefing on the first day of the 116th Congress https://t.co/azBbMrhQjt
— POLITICO (@politico) January 3, 2019
When the president was finished, he left the room without taking questions. Some reporters shouted their displeasure:
"The point of the briefing room is to take questions," shouts reporter in the White House briefing room after Trump and aides depart without taking questions.
— ErikWemple (@ErikWemple) January 3, 2019
Listen to reporters scream at the President after his short briefing:
“THE POINT OF THE BRIEFING ROOM IS TO TAKE QUESTIONS!”
Triggered! ?? pic.twitter.com/v6gcI5kan1
— thebradfordfile™ (@thebradfordfile) January 3, 2019
Trump walks away without taking questions as a reporter yells to him, “the point of the briefing room is to take questions!” pic.twitter.com/J6CcEINrim
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) January 3, 2019
And the media took notice:
The @PressSec announced a "briefing," but did not hold one. Trump spoke, but left without taking any Q's. A reporter shouted: "Sarah, are you coming back? Are you not taking any questions at all?" She didn't.
— Brian Stelter (@brianstelter) January 3, 2019
President Trump uses his first-ever trip to the White House briefing room to make a statement and — TAKE NO QUESTIONS! pic.twitter.com/GAqWQfmxaZ
— Christopher Cadelago (@ccadelago) January 3, 2019
Trump walks out without taking questions, White House staff follow without taking questions. It's not a briefing if they don't take questions.
— Zeke Miller (@ZekeJMiller) January 3, 2019
Maybe next time!