US Ambassador to Ankara and Special Envoy for Syria Thomas Barrack insulted journalists at a press conference held in Beirut, the capital of Lebanon, following his meeting with Lebanese President Joseph Aoun.
Barrack scolded the journalists, bothered by the common practice in press conferences of journalists asking questions simultaneously. Barrack stated, "Please, be quiet for a moment. I want to tell you something. The moment this starts to become chaotic and animalistic, we are out. Do you want to know what is happening? Behave in a civilized manner, be polite, be tolerant. Because that is the problem with what is going on in the region."
Barrack then asked the journalists, "Do you think this is fun for us? Do you think it is useful for Morgan and me to endure this madness here?"
"THIS IS NOT JUST ARROGANCE, IT IS RACISM"
While the remarks of Barrack, who is of Lebanese descent, caused a major backlash on social media, his statements were characterized as "racist."
Journalist Hala Jaber reacted sharply to Barrack's statements, saying, "Tom Barrack enters Beirut like a 19th-century colonial commissioner, calling Lebanese journalists 'animalistic.' He gives us a lesson in 'civilization' and blames everything on 'our region.' This is not just arrogance, it is racism. You do not run this country and you cannot insult its people."
News Source: İHA
