Trump Campaign Virginia Chairman Asks Question in White House Briefing
The Trump campaign’s Virginia chairman, John Fredericks, asked a question during the White House press briefing on Wednesday.
Fredericks, who hosts a syndicated conservative radio show called the John Fredericks Show, asked the last question of the briefing.
“I want to change the topic a minute if I may and go South,” Fredericks said, eliciting a smile from press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders.
Though the bulk of the press conference was about the White House’s stance on Russian interference in the 2016 election, Fredericks posed a question about Mexico.
“The incoming president of Mexico has made two very bold suggestions,” Fredericks said. “One, he’s looking at giving amnesty to the drug cartels.”
“Today, they come out and say they’re seriously looking at legalizing all drugs in Mexico,” Fredericks added. “If they do that, obviously it’s going to have a tremendous impact on the incoming amount of drugs into the United States.”
“What is the president’s position on that and are they going to do anything to stop that from happening in Mexico?” he asked.
Fredericks was likely referring to reports that Obrador was considering the legalization of drugs nationwide in an effort to quell the violent drug cartel warfare.
“Certainly, we’re going to continue engaging with our Mexican partners,” Sanders responded to Fredericks. “I don’t have a specific policy announcement on that front.”
“However, I can say we would not support the legalization of all drugs anywhere and wouldn’t allow more drugs to come into this country,” she said.
One Twitter user tweeted at Fredericks saying, “I don’t remember the last time [Sanders] smiled or was looking forward to a question from the press.”
“Wouldn’t you know it, it was from Republican pundit [Fredericks]?” the user Tweeted.
“What’s not to like?” Fredericks replied.
Fredericks tweeted earlier in the day that the White House presser was “all Russia.”
“Again,” he added.
The John Fredericks Show, which he advertises with the hashtag #TruckingTheTruth and #GodzillaOfTruth, appears to frequently promote pro-Trump ideas and messages. The show’s website promotes pictures of Fredericks with White House counselor Kellyanne Conway and Trump himself.
Under President Trump, conservative media outlets have gained more official seats in the White House briefing room.