President Donald Trump. (AFP Photo)
President Donald Trump on Thursday called reporters into the White House for an event with the family of slain Fort Hood soldier Vanessa Guillen.
The press availability, which was not previously on the president's schedule, coincided with former President Barack Obama delivering an eulogy at the funeral service of John Lewis.
The White House press pool was just abruptly called to gather. President Trump has nothing on his schedule for another 90 minutes.— Kaitlan Collins (@Kaitlan Collins) 1596128642.0
President Trump called an unscheduled press availability which coincides with @BarackObama eulogy for Rep John Lewi… https://t.co/jwIzxhqNaI— Paula Reid (@Paula Reid) 1596131207.0
"We didn’t want to have this swept under the rug, which could happen," Trump told Guillén's family during the Oval Office meeting.
Some political observers viewed Trump's actions as as an attempt to “one-up” Obama or distract from his speech.
meeting with the mother of Vanessa Guillen is admirable, and should rightfully become a White House priority... ..… https://t.co/sCNrbPp3IL— j.d. durkin (@j.d. durkin) 1596131781.0
Amazing coincidence that Trump calls reporters in for a not-on-the-public-schedule press opportunity JUST as Barack… https://t.co/DOng11gR7G— S.V. Dáte (@S.V. Dáte) 1596131371.0
@CNN @MSNBC @ABC @CBS @nbc @PBS please don't air Trump's presser live while Obama is giving a eulogy. If he make… https://t.co/bRS7aUOE6U— Cheri Jacobus (@Cheri Jacobus) 1596130110.0
@halbritz He’s trying - and will fail - to step on John Lewis funeral service. Trump is a whiny toddler. Has no com… https://t.co/wmN8qMjqzS— Betsy Blaney 🎾 (@Betsy Blaney 🎾) 1596131519.0
Pretty obvious why Trump suddenly summoned the press; he was watching FOX (of all places!) carrying GW Bush, Clinto… https://t.co/eXjjY5CpsP— Jeff Greenfield (@Jeff Greenfield) 1596132880.0
How petty is Donny Trump? He called an unscheduled press conference at the same time as Obama's Lewis eulogy, in ho… https://t.co/5E0Odc1Kab— Stephen Whitty (@Stephen Whitty) 1596133214.0
