Trump press secretary lectures veteran Black female journalist: "Stop shaking your head"

White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer told veteran White House correspondent April Ryan of American Urban Radio Networks to “stop shaking your head” during an exchange at the White House press briefing on Tuesday. Ryan, who is African-American, was asking Spicer about the increased scrutiny of the Trump White House and Russia when the press […]

By Oliver Willis - March 28, 2017

Ryan, who is African-American, was asking Spicer about the increased scrutiny of the Trump White House and Russia when the press secretary told her, “Stop shaking your head.”

The insulting comment was slammed by several journalists, who pointed out that Ryan is a “grown woman” and a “a top-notch journalist,” who “can do whatever she wants with her head.”

a grown woman and a top-notch journalist https://t.co/URF7E5apJ2

— Kasie Hunt (@kasie) March 28, 2017

“Stop shaking your head again,” Spicer lectures @AprilDRyan, who is a grown woman.

— Maggie Haberman (@maggieNYT) March 28, 2017

“Please stop shaking your head again,” Spicer says to veteran WH correspondent April Ryan.
That is some patronizing bullshit.

— Christina Wilkie (@christinawilkie) March 28, 2017

“Stop shaking your head again,” Spicer tells @AprilDRyan, who can do whatever she wants with her head

— Jennifer Epstein (@jeneps) March 28, 2017

Ryan herself later responded to Spicer’s insulting comments:

Lawd!!!!

— AprilDRyan (@AprilDRyan) March 28, 2017

This is not the first time Ryan has been belittled in the Trump White House. Trump himself asked Ryan if she could arrange a meeting between him and the Congressional Black Caucus, reducing the correspondent to a secretarial role.

Oliver Willis