After participating in the National Christmas Tree Lighting on Wednesday night, Donald Trump reportedly made a sudden and unexpected departure from the event without bringing his traveling press pool with him.
According to Bloomberg reporter Justin Sink, not only did the president leave the press behind, but he did so in the midst of a hypothermia alert.
president’s motorcade left the press at the christmas tree lighting. white house aides refusing to explain what happened.
— Justin Sink (@justinsink) November 28, 2018
To get more stories like this, subscribe to our newsletter The Daily.
(we’re still here and the hypothermia alert is still in effect. no idea where the president is)
— Justin Sink (@justinsink) November 28, 2018
Associated Press reporter Zeke Miller confirmed Sink’s reporting, saying that Trump returned to the White House without taking the media with him.
The White House abandoned the press pool at the Christmas tree lighting. Trump is allegedly back at the White House.
— Zeke Miller (@ZekeJMiller) November 28, 2018
Miller explained why it’s such a big deal, saying that the “protective press pool exists to be in close proximity to the president in the event of an emergency and to document his movements for history.”
The protective press pool exists to be in close proximity to the president in the event of an emergency and to document his movements for history. Can do neither at the moment. https://t.co/eXXKc8BQox
— Zeke Miller (@ZekeJMiller) November 28, 2018
Trump can’t even get the tree lighting right
While members of the media are now reportedly back at the White House, a “lid” has been declared and the administration has offered no explanation as to why Trump left the event so suddenly without bringing his traveling press pool.
In any case, it goes to show that there is no presidential task this president can’t screw up – even something as simple as the National Christmas Tree Lighting.
Follow Sean Colarossi on Facebook.
Sean Colarossi currently resides in Cleveland, Ohio. He earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in Journalism from the University of Massachusetts Amherst and was an organizing fellow for both of President Obama’s presidential campaigns. He also worked with Planned Parenthood as an Affordable Care Act Outreach Organizer in 2014, helping northeast Ohio residents obtain health insurance coverage.
