Shortly after Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) was sworn in as the 52nd Speaker of the House, President Donald Trump made an impromptu cameo at a White House press conference in what was clearly a desperate ploy for attention.
Trump began by congratulating Pelosi on becoming Speaker for the second time.
"I just want to start off by congratulating Nancy Pelosi on being elected Speaker of the House," Trump said. "It's a very, very great achievement, and hopefully we're going to work together and we're going to get lots of things done, like infrastructure and so much more."
The president then began rambling about the importance of a border wall.
"Without a wall you can not have border security," Trump said. "Without a very strong form of barrier, call it what you will, but without a wall you can't have border security. It won't work."
He continued by claiming without evidence that the public supports the construction of
"the wall or the barrier."
"I have never had so much support as I have in the last week over my stance on border security," Trump said. "I have never had anything like it in terms of calls coming in and people writing in and tweeting... I've never had this much support."
Watch below:
President Trump makes a surprise appearance in White House briefing room, where he dives into remarks about border… https://t.co/uI97jClio3— ABC News Politics (@ABC News Politics) 1546551915.0
Conservative commentator Bill Kristol immediately called out Trump for his stunt.
"Donald Trump couldn't stand it that Nancy Pelosi was the center of attention today," Kristol said on CNN, "so he had to butt in at 4:30 in the afternoon. It's pretty disgraceful."
Twitter, not missing a beat, also panned Trump for being incapable of sharing the spotlight.
@brianstelter @BillKristol He can’t stand not being the center of attention. Just look at the poster he had in the… https://t.co/afZJeJLvWO— Cathy McFe (@Cathy McFe) 1546551581.0
@brianstelter @BillKristol It’s totally disgusting but seriously not at all shocking.— Marci (@Marci) 1546551812.0
@brianstelter @BillKristol Bill Crystal called it!!! He got it exactly right.— Landy Taylor (@Landy Taylor) 1546552252.0
@brianstelter @draiochta14 @BillKristol @BillKristol is not wrong here.— 𝔾𝕣é𝕔𝕠𝕦𝕣𝕥𝔾 (@𝔾𝕣é𝕔𝕠𝕦𝕣𝕥𝔾) 1546553525.0
People are upset that the media indulged Trump.
They fall for it every time.
@brianstelter @BillKristol MSNBC broke away from live coverage. When there's no news--just spin--shouldn't CNN break away too?— Michael J. Evans (@Michael J. Evans) 1546551831.0
@brianstelter @BillKristol It's disgraceful that anyone covered it.— KM (@KM) 1546552637.0
@brianstelter @BillKristol CNN should stop covering this! Get the focus back to Nancy Pelosi! Why feed into exactly what he wants??— Corinna (@Corinna) 1546551844.0
@brianstelter @BillKristol So True! That "press briefing" was just a stunt!— James Blynt (@James Blynt) 1546552572.0
Everything has to be all about Trump, all the time.
@ABCPolitics Because questions are difficult. 😂😂😂😂😂😂— Marc N Cunat (@Marc N Cunat) 1546553174.0
@ABCPolitics He talks for a couple of minutes and leaves without taking questions. It's a political stunt meant to… https://t.co/FA5EBHILwd— lawhawk (@lawhawk) 1546552110.0
@ABCPolitics The ony thing @realDonaldTrump could tell me he knows most about that I would believe is narcissism. D… https://t.co/uGyuV6d8Oz— Jeanette (@Jeanette) 1546552083.0
@ABCPolitics Are you paying attention to me? Not Nancy. Me!!— KK Lena (@KK Lena) 1546552005.0
@ABCPolitics @MissNadia619 “I need some attention, damn it!” — DJT— Pertinent Designs (@Pertinent Designs) 1546552733.0
@ABCPolitics Nancy had the stage, so he had to get on stage also.— Pam Lanzotti (@Pam Lanzotti) 1546554104.0
@brianstelter @BillKristol Exactly. Always a distraction. He’s of the mind any press is good press. Only he’s no lo… https://t.co/tyIzkMlVeV— Sara shara (@Sara shara) 1546554001.0
Trump did not take any questions following his appearance, but boy do we have some.