Wow that question from the Phoenix TV reporter backfired dramatically
It was a textbook exchange, only that Trump didn't take the bait.
By textbook I mean it was a textbook "leading" question from a Chinese reporter, making a long statement, which Trump correctly sensed and pointed out, trying to solicit a "positive" answer.
Trump was apparently not in the mood to sing the praise of his good friend you-know-who and pivoted to a completely different, totally unprompted direction - trade.
It must have been the exact opposite of what the reporter intended.
And she insisted Phoenix TV is private, well, I'm sure China Twitter has a lot to say about that
In principle and the best scenario possible, which outlet she works should have no bearing on the answer and it was inappropriate for Trump to ask. But here we are.
Now the most interesting thing to watch is whether or how Phoenix TV reports on the exchange. This is gonna be a BIG dilemma for them.
The answer, from the Chinese perspective, is completely NEGATIVE. UNFIT to report by Chinese standards, unless they got a special waiver/immunity
If they do NOT report the exchange, then it's very suspicious - it's live throughout the world, you asked a question, the U.S. President gave a reponse, why won't you report in total? What are you doing here then? Are you a "journalist" if you don't report it? Who are you then?
This is a textbook example of why it's increasingly rare for Chinese state media reporters to ask questions in high-profile and live-streamed public settings:
They can only report the positive answers, so if the person doesn't play ball and goes negative, a BIG dilemma ensues
An answer that negative (as Trump's) will never appear on Xinhua/CCTV/People's Daily. No chance at all. Unless in rare, extraordinary scenarios.
(Maybe a bit of slack/freedom for Phoenix TV, since they are not rigidly state media)
But if it's a high-profile, live-streamed event like this one, NOT reporting on your own outlet is so obviously a POLITICAL decision and calls into question the very nature and reason of your outlet: who are you then? What's your job exactly?
thank you, but hoping for a more complete clip, which should include the lengthy statement posed as a question.
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