Trump’s press secretary suggests journalists don’t believe in God after question about Trump ordering churches to reopen
TENSIONS boiled over at the White House when Press Secretary Kayleigh McEnany implied journalists at a press briefing did not believe in God.
McEnany was facing questions Friday after President Donald Trump ordered governors to allow places of worship to reopen this weekend.
“Boy, it’s interesting to be in a room that desperately seems to want to see these houses of worship closed,” she said to the White House correspondents.
Reuters reporter Jeff Mason objection to McEnany’s statement.
“Kayleigh, I object to that,” Mason said.
“I go to church. I’m dying to go back to church,” he continued.
“The question that we’re asking you is, is it safe? And if it’s not safe … should people wait?”
McEnany, a Harvard Law School graduate and former commentator on CNN who began the role this month, responded that “it is safe if you reopen in accordance with the guidelines.”
Moments earlier, when another reporter asked if the President was urging churches to defy governor’s order to stay shut, McEnany replied:
“You’re posing a hypothetical. You’re assuming governors are going to keep churches shut down. I think we can all say that we hope this Sunday people are allowed to pray to their Gods across this country.
“That’s a good thing,” she added.
The tense briefing followed President Trump’s order to governors to allow places of worship to reopen this weekend, despite the threat of the coronavirus.
“Today I’m identifying houses of worship – churches, synagogues and mosques – as essential places that provide essential services,” Trump said at the White House Friday.
“I call upon governors to allow our churches and places of worship to open right now,” he added.
“If there is any question, they’re going to have to call me but they’re not going to be successful in that call.”
He said if governors don’t abide by his request, he will “override” them, though it’s unclear what authority he has to do so.
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The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention had prepared reopening guidelines for churches and other houses of worship weeks ago, but the White House had refused to release them until Thursday when Trump abruptly changed course.
The President criticized governors who deemed “liquor stores and abortion centers” essential, but not places of worship.
“It’s not right,” he said at the press conference. “So I’m correcting this injustice.”
“These are places that hold our society together and keep our people united.”