Trump silences female reporter in tense clash before slamming Obama's women-in-power claim

Trump silences female reporter in tense clash before slamming Obama's women-in-power claim Donald Trump has told a female reporter to be “quiet” during a tense clash with the press, before separately hitting back at Barack Obama’s claim that governments would be better if women were in charge US President Donald Trump has told a female reporter to be “quiet” during another heated exchange with the press, before separately dismissing the suggestion that women are better suited to running governments than men as “ridiculous”. The 47th US President shushed MS NOW reporter Akayla Gardner on Saturday (September 27) after she questioned whether he wanted only media outlets that “support” him to be included in the White House press pool. Her question came after Trump barred CNN, MS NOW and Politico from the Oval Office last week. A federal judge blocked that decision on Thursday, although Trump still prevented CNN from joining the press pack aboard Air Force One on Saturday. “No, no,” Trump replied. “I want real news, not fake news like you. Listen, I want real news. I love an open, free press. What I don’t like is the fake press.” Trump then claimed that CNN and MS NOW had low ratings. Gardner pressed him further, asking: “Do you not want tough questions?” “Wait, wait,” Trump said, raising his index finger. “Quiet. “What I don't like is fake news. And they’re fake news.” The President's clashes involving women continued later in the day when he was asked about remarks made by his predecessor, Barack Obama. Obama had spoken during the week about women in government, saying: “If you put women in charge of every government for like two years and then just kind of saw alright how are things going, I have a strong belief that things would — they wouldn’t be perfect — but they’d be better.” Trump appeared to reject the former president’s argument, describing it as “ridiculous”. “It's ridiculous,” Trump said. “I love women. I think they're great. But what a ridiculous statement that is.” Trump has maintained a highly combative relationship with the media. The US President has often accused journalists of biased or unfair reporting, and has personally attacked others. Female journalists are repeatedly the targets of his criticisms. In June, Trump hit out at CNN reporter Kaitlan Collins, claiming she had “hatred in her eyes” and saying: “I never see a smile.” He had previously branded Collins “stupid and nasty” after she questioned him about the proposed White House ballroom. Last November, Trump told a female Bloomberg reporter, “Quiet, piggy,” when she attempted to question him about Jeffrey Epstein. The White House defended Trump's remark at the time, saying the President is “very frank and honest with everyone.”