If only President Donald Trump sounding the “fake news” alarm all hours of the day was the worst of his interactions with the press. Alas, Trump managed to carve out a new level of inappropriateness on Tuesday during his interaction with Irish journalist Caitriona Perry.
Perry, the Washington correspondent and U.S. bureau chief for RTÉ News, and her team were in the Oval Office reporting on Trump’s call with Ireland‘s Taoiseach, or prime minister, Leo Varadkar.
Trump was scheduled to congratulate Varadkar for his recent appointment to the position. However, during his call, Trump’s attention turned toward the Irish press in the room—more specifically, Perry herself.
In a move completely out of those workplace seminar anti-harassment videos, Trump signaled Perry out while she was doing her job, and continued to comment on her appearance and smile.
“We have a lot of your Irish press watching us,” Trump was recorded saying to Varadkar just before pointing to someone just on the left of the frame. “And where are you from?”
“Go ahead. Come here, come here,” he continued, gesturing with the “come hither” motion. “We have all of this beautiful Irish press here. And where are you from?”
“I’m from RTÉ News … Caitriona Perry …,” she can be heard telling Trump once she approaches his desk.
“Caitriona Perry. She has a nice smile on her face, so I bet she treats you well,” Trump talks into the phone to Varadkar as Perry walks away.
Perry then posted the video of their uncomfortable interaction on Twitter:
Video of the bizarre moment when President @realDonaldTrump called me over during his call with Taoiseach @campaignforLeo Varadkar. @rtenews pic.twitter.com/TMl2SFQaji
— Caitriona Perry (@CaitrionaPerry) June 27, 2017
Yes, it’s a clip that just becomes more and more nauseating with each play, and has attracted apologies from American women, and a few men, on the president’s behalf.
Trump,"She has a nice smile on her face so I bet she treats you well."😳Ms.Perry, please accept the apology of at least 1 female American.😔
— Christine Canning (@Canni2Canning) June 27, 2017
We apologize that our president is a weird, inappropriate creep.
— Shannon Coulter (@shannoncoulter) June 27, 2017
1) it was utterly inappropriate in the work-place…they weren't on a date!
— Caroline Feraday (@CarolineFeraday) June 28, 2017
2) you could see she was uncomfortable, he relishes this power
It's hell to be objectified. When POTUS has no fear of doing that surrounded by cameras… I'm so sorry. Your success is more than a smile.
— Cristin Harber (@CristinHarber) June 28, 2017
https://twitter.com/JulieAnnSilver/status/879829661945036801
He called you over to look you over. Gross. #EmbarassedForMyCountry
— Kevin Chamberlin (@kevinchamberlin) June 27, 2017
https://twitter.com/SeeDaneRun/status/879835776837726208
https://twitter.com/AndrewRannells/status/880025679517159424
Imagine that, just another day during the Trump presidency.