Trump misfires at Fox News’ Jacqui Heinrich
On the heels of President Donald Trump’s primary defeat of numerous Republicans who he felt were not loyal or supportive enough of his agenda, he put another Republican in his sights but hit the wrong target.
It was during one of those press gaggles at Joint Base Andrews on Wednesday when the president went after one of the reporters, per usual. But it was Fox News White House reporter Jacqui Heinrich who asked a normal question: Had the president recently spoken to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu? But rather than answer, he leaned toward Heinrich and glanced at the other reporters, saying, “Her husband votes against me all the time. Can you imagine? What’s with him? You ask, what’s with him? Her husband — she’s married to a certain congressman. He likes voting against Trump. You know what happens with that? Doesn’t work out well. I don’t know why he does it.”
The camera never was on the reporters during the rant, so we can only imagine the look on Heinrich’s face. Stunned, I would think. Trump was referring to U.S. Representative Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA-01), who represents a purple district comprising Bucks County and a small portion of Montgomery County. (Fitzpatrick and Heinrich are engaged, not yet married.)
I have been a news reporter and broadcaster since before Jacqui Heinrich was born and I have never seen anything so off-base as that rant to a professional journalist, a White House correspondent who the president knows well. My immediate reaction was not to the veiled threat meant for Fitzpatrick, but to Heinrich.
Trump’s diatribe against the congressman was an attack on her. He has criticized and called out reporters in the past, especially those from the “fake news” media, as he likes to say, but he usually likes Fox, or so I thought.
My concern is journalism and the free press, respect for women, and the career of a fine journalist. These subjects were all entwined in that minute of madness when a president was attempting to tell the world her fiancé gets on his nerves. Trump and Fitzpatrick can fight it out in Washington. Heinrich is not joined at the hip with her fiancé; she is a separate person, a professional in a different field, not a politician. And married or not, one partner is not responsible for the way the other thinks or votes. Everyone knows that.
Bias is another matter and that is not what Trump was addressing. Fox News was aware of the couple’s dating and engagement and as well as her journalistic beat.
I believe he attempted to intimidate Heinrich because he is at odds with her fiancé, but I don’t think it will affect her career in any way. We know Trump bickers with the media, but this situation is so different, so political. I noticed the body language of the president and his tone of voice, and it was directed at her, as well as the congressman. She survived that tirade, but never got a question in. I wonder what will happen at the next gaggle?
Again, keep the messenger in mind. She was on the job doing her best, and was improperly treated like a politician. Our president misfired and owes Jacqui Heinrich an apology.
Pat Wandling is a veteran journalist, formerly of The Bucks County Courier, and was a mainstay on WBCB for over 20 years.
