(Bloomberg) -- President Donald Trump insulted a female reporter for ABC News on Monday during a Rose Garden news conference, telling her that she “never” thinks even before she had a chance to ask her question.
As the reporter, Cecilia Vega, turned to retrieve a microphone to ask Trump a question, Trump joked “she's shocked that I picked her. Like in a state of shock.”
Vega responded, “I'm not, thank you Mr. President.”
Trump appeared to misunderstand her. “That's OK, I know you're not thinking, you never do.”
“I'm sorry?” she responded.
“No, go ahead. Go ahead,” Trump said.
In a transcript released later Monday, the White House quoted Trump differently, saying he said “I know you're not thanking.”
Vega tried to ask a question about the FBI investigation of sexual assault allegations against Trump's Supreme Court nominee, Brett Kavanaugh, but the president initially insisted she ask about trade. He returned to Vega later for a Kavanaugh question.
“A news conference means you get to ask whatever question you want to ask,” Vega tweeted later, adding the hashtag “#FirstAmendment.”
To contact the reporter on this story: Alex Wayne in Washington at awayne3@bloomberg.net
To contact the editors responsible for this story: Alex Wayne at awayne3@bloomberg.net, Joshua Gallu
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