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Trump snaps at reporter during tense White House briefing, says 'don't EVER talk to the president that way'

When Reuters White House correspondent Jeff Mason tried to enquire about Trump's plans of conceding to his Democratic opponent, the POTUS snapped back

Not only has President Donald Trump refused to concede to President-elect Joe Biden after the outcome of the 2020 election, but he is also not in a mood to be undermined by the press pool at the White House. As a result, when he was asked by one of the reporters if would concede and a subsequent follow-up query pressing for an answer, the POTUS snapped back. 

The heated exchange happened on Thursday, November 26, when the soon-to-be-ex president took questions from the media for the first time since election day. Much like his continuous rant on Twitter about baseless voter fraud claims in the presidential race, Trump made it clear during the press conference that he was not going to easily concede. As a result, when Reuters White House correspondent Jeff Mason tried to enquire about his plans of conceding to his Democratic opponent, the POTUS snapped back. 

“Don’t talk to me that way,” Trump clapped back, pointing to the reporter. “You're just a lightweight. Don't talk to me that way. I'm the President of the United States. Don't ever talk to the President that way.” He then refused to answer the question or allow Mason an alternate question and instead, moved onto the next reporter. 

After a clip of the moment was shared on Twitter by the Hill, it went viral with a number of reactions pouring in. "With that kind of reaction, it's amazing he doesn't try to respond to every one of us on Twitter since we all give him hell there," one wrote, while another said, "The guy who played 'waldo’s dad”' in the 1994 film The Little Rascals appears to be yelling about something on tv." A third commented, "Reporter: My apologies sir. Let’s meet up on January 21st."

Someone else remarked, "'I want to speak to the United States’ manager right now!' President Karen." The next quipped, "He never learned respect is earned." One more person tweeted, "Counting down the days Donnie." Another said, "Is he the president? Really? I'm asking because he hasn't been showing up to work for some time now."

One user wrote, "The tone of his voice that he briefly used. In another setting I can easily see him reacting in a much harsher manner." Someone else posted, "Somebody broke him. It’s a good thing we’re getting a new one soon."

Apart from snapping at the reporter, the president repeated his baseless claims of “massive fraud” and denounced officials in Georgia and Pennsylvania — two key battleground states that Biden flipped Blue — as “communists” and “enemies of the state”. He also said that it “would be a mistake” for officials of the country’s electoral college to formally elect Biden as the next president, set to take place in mid-December followed by a Senate confirmation on January 6.

He added that he would leave the White House if Biden's win was confirmed by the Electoral College but refused to say if he will attend the 46th US president's inauguration which is customary for outgoing presidents. “This has a long way to go,” Trump said during the press conference. “This election was a fraud. It was a rigged election.”