Former Fox News host struggles in first US State Dept press briefing (VIDEO)
Heather Nauert appeared at her first press briefing as spokesperson for the US State Department – more than a month after taking over the role.
And if Nauert spent the month brushing up on global affairs, it didn’t show.
My first press briefing @StateDept! Honored to be working with such talented, dedicated staff and distinguished journalists. pic.twitter.com/RjhuAMqU5o
— Heather Nauert (@statedeptspox) June 6, 2017
The former Fox News host appeared to struggle with the variety of questions, spending long periods consulting a binder when asked about China’s imprisonment of human rights and labor activists as well as North Korea’s relationship with Russia.
Her reliance on the binder during the 40-minute briefing drew scathing criticism from watching peers.
State Dept spox Heather Nauert, in 1st briefing of Trump admin, is flipping between pages of a 3-4 inch thick binder to answer questions
— Jon Ward (@jonward11) June 6, 2017
A question about China prompts another 30 seconds of flipping through the binder, from which Nauert then reads a boilerplate statement.
— Dan Zak (@MrDanZak) June 6, 2017
Heather Nauert? More like Heather Wait-I-need-to-look-through-a-giant-binder-ert!
— Will Rahn (@willrahn) June 6, 2017
Nauert joins the State Department after 15 years in TV journalism. She worked as an anchor on the morning show ‘Fox & Friends’ as well as for ABC News where she reported on the war in Iraq and the genocide in Darfur.
The 47 year old sparked controversy in February when she seemed to promote clothes made by Donald Trump’s daughter Ivanka after it was rumored she had interviewed for the State Department job.
The tweets now appear to have been deleted.
"Fox & Friends” and Trump WH finally become one. @HeatherNauert now State Dept spox. BTW: she deleted these tweets. https://t.co/1bH6QJ3D3Npic.twitter.com/WZPEJsoUaN
— Andrew Kirell (@AndrewKirell) April 24, 2017
