Trump's relationship with the press is one big April (as in Ryan) fool's joke

As with all things having to do with Donald Trump over the last two years, we have come to expect many things that make absolutely no sense—with some registering vague amusement and others seemingly downright insane. One of the more baffling and truly bizarre episodes with this administration is its war on the press, and specifically, its seemingly out of nowhere battle with reporter April Ryan. 

Ryan has been covering the White House for more than 20 years and, for the first time, she herself has become the news as she repeatedly finds herself in the spotlight during the Trump administration. In February, she made news when Trump asked if she could set up a meeting for him with the Congressional Black Caucus. On Tuesday, she bore the wrath of Sean Spicer’s bad temper when she asked a question about the White House’s current image. Of course Spicer, whose lack of anger management skills show on a daily basis why he should not be allowed to hold the job of press secretary, never mind any job where he has to interact with the public, lost control and blew up at Ryan.

Spicer accused her of having “an agenda,” and then said, “it seems like you’re hell-bent on trying to make sure that whatever image you want to tell about this White House stays.”

When she disagreed, he added, “I’m sorry, please stop shaking your head.”

Talk about a press under attack. This White House takes that old saying “keep your friends close and your enemies closer” to a whole new level. Still, Ryan is undeterred and her colleagues say she can be always counted on to speak her mind. 

Anita Kumar, a White House correspondent for McClatchy Newspapers, who sits beside Ryan in the briefing room said Ryan is “known for being refreshingly blunt.”

“She has never had a problem saying what she thinks and asking the questions she wants of the president or his staff no matter who is in the White House,” Kumar said.