Two Reporters Removed from Press Conference After Interrupting Secretary of State Blinken
Two reporters were removed from a press conference held by Secretary of State Anthony Blinken on Thursday morning after interrupting him with shouted questions. Max Blumenthal, editor-in-chief of The Grayzone, and Sam Husseini, an American journalist, both interrupted Blinken as he delivered remarks on the ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas.
Blumenthal accused Blinken of having a “legacy of genocide” and shouted questions about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, including why the US kept bombing Gaza despite a previous deal in May. He also accused Blinken of allowing “my friends to be massacred” and “my friends’ homes in Gaza to be destroyed.”
Husseini also interrupted Blinken, shouting questions about the May 31st statement and the International Court of Justice’s (ICJ) orders. He accused Blinken of blocking the ICJ orders and said that Israel was committing genocide and extermination.
Both Blumenthal and Husseini were eventually escorted out of the briefing room, with Blumenthal being physically dragged out as he continued to yell at Blinken. Husseini was also physically removed from the room and handcuffed.
The incident sparked controversy on social media, with many criticizing the handling of the situation by the State Department. Blumenthal and Husseini both posted video clips of their shouted questions, with Blumenthal calling Blinken the “Secretary of Genocide” and Miller his “smirking press secretary.”