Trump nails ‘lightweight’ reporter over interruption: ‘Don’t ever talk to the president that way’

President Trump held a press conference on Thanksgiving Day to discuss the election, voter fraud, and the transition process. He nailed a “lightweight” reporter who disrespected him while he was talking. Trump told him in no uncertain terms, “Don’t ever talk to the president that way.”

Reuters White House correspondent Jeff Mason asked the president whether he would think about conceding the election when the Electoral College votes for Joe Biden. Trump responded, “Well if they do, they made a mistake, because this election was a fraud.”

“Just so you understand, this election was a fraud,” Trump continued. “So no, I can’t say that at all. I think it’s a possibility… they’re trying to, look, between you people…”

It was at this point that Mason interrupted the president trying to ask the same question once again. President Trump had had enough and snapped at the reporter for being rude.

“Don’t talk to me that way,” Trump slammed the reporter. “You’re just a lightweight. Don’t talk to me that way. Don’t talk to…”

“I’m the president of the United States. Don’t ever talk to the president that way,” Trump continued, before moving on to another reporter, “Alright, I’m going to go with another question.”

Asked if he would leave the White House if the Electoral College vote went against him, Trump said: “Certainly I will. And you know that,” adding that: “If they do, they’ve made a mistake.”

Trump and Mason have previously locked horns. The president mocked the reporter for wearing a coronavirus face mask in October.

During the press conference, Trump declined to say whether he would concede but admitted he would leave the White House in January. Which was already a foregone conclusion as the president never stated that he wouldn’t leave.

This was the first time he had taken questions from reporters since election day and the meeting was combative and tense.

Trump has not said if he would attend Biden’s inauguration, which is presumed to take place on January 20th.

JUST IN: President Trump snaps at reporter objecting to the President's false claims about the election: "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." pic.twitter.com/RbTKItjs9L

— The Hill (@thehill) November 26, 2020

President Trump has given presumptive President-elect Joe Biden the green light to begin a formal transition. But he is not enamored with Biden moving forward yet.

“I think it’s not right that he’s trying to pick a Cabinet,” Trump said, even though officials from both teams are already working together to get Biden’s team up to speed.

At one point he urged reporters not to allow Biden the credit for pending coronavirus vaccines. Trump’s Operation Warp Speed team has done massive legwork to get the vaccines created and dispensed as quickly as possible but Biden seems eager to claim that for himself.

“Don’t let him take credit for the vaccines because the vaccines were me and I pushed people harder than they’ve ever been pushed before,” Trump said.

As for whether or not he plans to formally declare his candidacy to run again in 2024, Trump didn’t “want to talk about 2024 yet.”

In late-night tweets, the president complained that the media had not covered his news conference in an honest way, saying the main point he had tried to make was that he won the election. Twitter flagged his comments.

“I gave a long news conference today after wishing the military a Happy Thanksgiving, & realized once again that the Fake News Media coordinates so that the real message of such a conference never gets out. Primary point made was that the 2020 Election was RIGGED, and that I WON!”

I gave a long news conference today after wishing the military a Happy Thanksgiving, & realized once again that the Fake News Media coordinates so that the real message of such a conference never gets out. Primary point made was that the 2020 Election was RIGGED, and that I WON!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 27, 2020