Who do you think should win the pity contest?
During a meeting at the White House with President Trump on Monday, Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan tried to brush off the idea that his government was cracking down on press freedom, despite journalists staging nationwide protests last week and the removal of three television stations from the airwaves after they showed a live speech by opposition leader Maryam Nawaz.
Khan said that, on the contrary, Pakistan has one of the freest presses in the world; his reason being that he faces "unprecedented" criticism from the press. An incredulous Trump said "there's no way" Khan was "treated worse" than he is.
Khan, asked about curbs on press freedom in Pakistan, dismisses the question and says, “The criticism I have received from my own press is unprecedented.”
“There’s no way you’re treated worse than I am,” Trump responds.— Rebecca Ballhaus (@rebeccaballhaus) July 22, 2019
Trump's comments didn't set off any drama between the two heads of state, though. Instead, it drew a chuckle from Khan.
The exchange wasn't the only shot Trump took at the U.S. media, though. He also made sure to let the Pakistani press know he was much fonder of them than he was of American reporters. Tim O'Donnell
RT @ABC: "Are you from Pakistan?" Pres. Trump asks a reporter in the Oval Office. "Good, I want a couple of Pakistani reporters. I like them much better than our reporters." https://t.co/fsi5ybn81U pic.twitter.com/XflmVNlKHK
— Elizabeth Cherneff (@echerneff) July 22, 2019