Sean Spicer Tells Journalist April Ryan to 'Stop Shaking Your Head' During Press Briefing

"Stop shaking your head again."
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Earlier today, White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer was holding a briefing with the press when he talked down to a black female reporter for asking questions about the investigation of President Donald Trump and his administration's involvement with Russian officials.

More specifically, The Washington Post published a report this morning claiming that Devin Nunes, a Republican congressman from California and the chair of the House Intelligence Committee, who was an adviser for Trump's transition team, canceled a hearing that would have featured the testimony of former acting attorney general Sally Yates about the Trump campaign's links to Russia. In letters reviewed by the Post, U.S. Department of Justice officials "notified Yates earlier this month that the administration considers a great deal of her possible testimony to be barred from discussion in a congressional hearing because the topics are covered by the presidential communication privilege." In addition, many Democrats and others believe that Nunes's involvement with the House Intelligence Committee investigation could potentially jeopardize the investigation's impartiality, since he has appeared to work directly with the White House.

During the briefing, April Ryan, the White House correspondent for the American Urban Radio Networks, asked Spicer a question about how the Trump administration was handling its image due to these numerous controversies, at which Spicer became combative. "I've said it from the day that I got here until whatever that there is no connection," Spicer responded. "You've got Russia. If the president puts Russian salad dressing on his salad tonight, somehow that's a Russian connection." He proceeded to interrupt Ryan several times as she tried to clarify her stance and her question.

"At some point, report the facts," Spicer retorted. "Every single person who's been briefed on this subject has come to the same conclusion — Republican, Democrat — so I'm sorry that that disgusts you.... At some point, the facts are what they are."

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He then told Ryan to "stop shaking your head" during the exchange.

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Soon after, people took to Twitter to call out Spicer for trying to shame Ryan for asking a question as well as for commenting on her behavior.

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In addition, Wall Street Journal senior writer Farnaz Fassihi pointed out on Twitter that this is the second time today that a powerful black woman has been patronized by a white man in Washington. This morning, Fox News host Bill O'Reilly commented on Representative Maxine Waters's hair looking like a "James Brown wig" after she discussed her resistance to Donald Trump. He then claimed that he "loved" Waters after her segment.

Related: Meet Maxine Waters, the Congresswoman Leading the Fight Against Donald Trump

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