CBS host Gayle King, pointing to a photo of President Donald Trump and Republican Party leaders taken Wednesday night at the White House, told outgoing Speaker Paul Ryan she felt “very excluded” because they were only white males in the photo.
“When I look at that picture, Mr. Speaker, I have to say, I don’t see anybody who looks like me, in terms of color or gender,” King said, emulating the analogy made popular by former President Barack Obama.
The interview came after Ryan’s big announcement earlier the day of the photo that he will not seek reelection in November — King’s loaded, race-based question surely a reassurance to the Wisconsin Republican that he made the right decision, given the state of today’s media.
The photo was posted on the president’s personal Twitter page Wednesday night.
“Honored to have Republican Congressional Leadership join me at the @WhiteHouse this evening,” Trump tweeted. “Lots to discuss as we continue MAKING AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!
https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/984204373105442816
“You were one of the main people that said you wanted to do more for the Republican Party—you wanted to expand the base,” King reminded Ryan. “When I look at that picture, I have to say, I don’t feel very celebratory. I feel very excluded.”
Ryan kept it classy, responding that diversity remains a priority for the party.
“I don’t like the fact that you feel that way,” he said. “And we need more minorities, more women in our party, and I’ve been focusing on that kind of recruitment.”
King tried to get Ryan to throw the president under the bus, asking him if “Trump fatigue” played a role in his decision to not run for reelection.
Ryan stressed the decision was driven by the desire to spend more time with his kids, who “aren’t getting younger.”
“My kids have only known me as a weekend dad and now they’re teenagers,” he told King.
Another factor, Ryan said, was that he has gotten much of what he wanted done.
“I’ve been working on tax reform since I got here,” Ryan explained, as he named his accomplishments. “We got that done…”
Meanwhile, President Trump nominated the first black woman to be Marine Brigadier General. Hopefully, someone gives King the memo.
President Trump nominates first black woman to be Marine Brigadier General https://t.co/xFFUGxgwmX pic.twitter.com/ozh2H0wvur
— Conservative News (@BIZPACReview) April 12, 2018
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The longest-tenured writer at BizPac Review, Tom grew up in Maryland before moving to Central Florida as a young teen. It is in the Sunshine State that he honed both his passion for politics and his writing skills.
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