NPR reporter Mary Louise Kelly was the target of Secretary of State Mike Pompeo’s ire Saturday. Pompeo called Kelly a liar, said her conduct was shameful and asked her to locate Ukraine on a map.
Pompeo said the NPR reporter lied to him twice. “First, last month, in setting up our interview and, then again yesterday, in agreeing to have our post-interview conversation off the record, It is shameful that this reporter chose to violate the basic rules of journalism and decency.” He says the incident “another example of how unhinged the media has become in its quest to hurt President Trump and this Administration.
Over the years, President Trump has often referred to mainstream media outlets as fake news.
Pompeo got angry at Kelly when she asked him about Ukraine and whether he defended or should have defended U.S ambassador Marie Yovanovitch. Pompeo said he’s defended every State Department official.
Kelly told NPR Pompeo asked her if she could locate Ukraine on a map, which she says she did. She also said she never agreed to anything off-the-record.
NPR said it stood by Mary Louise Kelly’s reporting.
