Posted on 07/27/21
| News Source: NY Post
President Biden on Monday called a reporter a “pain in the neck” for flouting his request for questions only about the US ending its combat mission in Iraq — continuing his habit of lashing out at journalists in response to questions he doesn’t like.
NBC News reporter Kelly O’Donnell disobeyed Biden’s request for questions “about Iraq” and asked Biden instead about reports that the Department of Veterans Affairs would require staff to get vaccinated against COVID-19.
“You are such a pain in the neck. But I’m going to answer your question because we’ve known each other for so long. It has nothing to do with Iraq,” Biden said, before confirming that the VA would be the first federal agency to compel vaccination.
Biden was hosting Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi in the Oval Office when he rebuked the veteran journalist, who often appears on MSNBC.
O’Donnell was elected this month to be president of the White House Correspondents’ Association. The association picks presidents two years in advance and her one-year term begins in 2023.