Kellyanne Conway Condemns ‘Venomous,’ ‘Vicious’ Treatment in Wake of #Couchgate
“I have 24/7 secret service protection because there are people out there who do wish us harm,” White House counselor says
Tim Kenneally | February 28, 2017 @ 4:34 PM
Last Updated: February 28, 2017 @ 7:20 PM
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Kellyanne Conway isn’t taking the criticism of her Oval Office couch pose sitting down.
Conway, who was eviscerated this week on Twitter after a photo of her sitting on a couch in the Oval Office with her shoes on the sofa surfaced, appeared on Fox Business Network’s “Lou Dobbs Tonight” to condemn the “venomous” and “vicious” treatment she’s been subjected to.
“It is venomous, it is vicious, it bothers my children to be frank with you,” White House counselor Conway said. “I have 24/7 secret service protection because there are people out there who do wish us harm and people should take that very seriously.”
Conway suggested that the uproar was instigated by a journalist opposed to Trump, and insisted that she “meant no disrespect.”
“I am not a victim at all but people should take very seriously the import of their words,” she said, before pointing out to Dobbs, “If we started the trend here, where people are outwardly talking about greater respect for the Office of the President and its current occupants, then perhaps that’s something positive that came out.
“But I, of course, meant no disrespect … this came from a journalist who is not happy that Donald Trump is the President, but I just want people to focus on the great work of the HCBU [Historically Black Colleges and Universities] presidents and how honored we were to have them here,” Conway stressed.
The photo showed the Oval Office packed with representatives from Historically Black Colleges and Universities while Conway looked at her phone.
One critic of the photo, Wall Street Journal editor Bret Stephens, tweeted, “If Rice or Jarrett had sat like this in Oval Office conservatives would have screamed themselves hoarse for weeks. Now we own trashy.”
If Rice or Jarrett had sat like this in Oval Office conservatives would have screamed themselves hoarse for weeks. Now we own trashy. https://t.co/wFo31mqjYI
During the interview, Conway explained that her pose was the result of trying to take a photo “from a certain angle.”
“I was being asked to take a picture in a crowded room with the press behind us. I was asked to take a certain angle and was doing exactly that,” Conway told Dobbs. “I certainly meant no disrespect, I didn’t mean to have my feet on the couch.”
12 Moments That Would Make Donald Trump Glad He Skipped the Oscars (Photos)
White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer said this week Donald Trump wouldn't be watching the 2017 Academy Awards. That was probably a good idea, since lots of people in Hollywood had digs for the president during the award show. Even some of the ads played during the show were critical. Here are all the political moments from the Oscars.
Kimmel jokes about Trump's travel ban In Hollywood, "We don't discriminate against people based on what countries they come from. We discriminate against people based on their age and weight," Kimmel joked.
Iranian director tears Trump's travel ban "The Salesman" director Asghar Farhadi skipped the Oscars. In a statement he said, "I’m sorry I’m not with you tonight. My absence is out of respect for the the people of my country and those of the other six nations who have been disrespected by the inhumane law that bans entry of immigrants to the U.S.”
"Zootopia" director mentions tolerance "We are so grateful to the audiences all over the world that embraced this film with this story of tolerance being more powerful than fear of the other,”said Zootopia co-director Rich Howard.
Kimmel mocks Trump's Meryl Streep comments "This is Meryl's 20th Oscar nomination, even more amazing considering she wasn't in a movie this year...That's a nice dress by the way. Is that an Ivanka?"
Kimmel tweets at Donald Trump He remarked that the show had been on for more than two hours and Trump hadn't tweeted about it at all.
Audible's "1984" ad Zachary Quinto reads George Orwell's "1984," choosing a passage about how contact with foreign people might dispel fear and hatred. A definite dig in light of the Trump travel ban.
"La La Land" composer highlights education "La La Land" composer Justin Paul took a dig at Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos during his speech for Best Original Song. "I was educated in public schools where arts and culture were valued. And recognized and resourced. And I'm so grateful to all my teachers who taught so much and gave so much to us."
"Moonlight" director says "we have your back" Barry Jenkins in his acceptance speech for Best Adapted Screenplay said, "All you people who feel like there's no mirror for you, the academy has your back, the ACLU has your back, we have your back, and for the next four years, we will not forget you." Co-writer Tarell Alvin McRaney also shouted out "all those black and brown boys and girls and nongender conforming who don't see themselves" in movies much.
"O.J.: Made in America" director calls out police brutality "This is also for other victims, victims of police violence, police brutality. This is their story as it is Ron and Nicole’s," director Ezra Edelman said in his acceptance speech for Best Documentary.
New York Times releases ad about the importance of truth The Times released an ad in direct response to Trump's constant insults against the Times and accusations of "fake news." Watch it here.
Samsung ends VR commercial with Women's March Samsung showed off its Gear VR virtual reality headset with shots of the 2017 Inauguration, but ended with three times as many clips of the worldwide Women's March. Watch it here.
BONUS: Warren Beatty and Faye Dunaway read the wrong Best Picture Unlike the other items on this list, Trump may actually be sorry he missed seeing the biggest flub in Oscar history as "La La Land" was named Best Picture at the Oscars by mistake given his anti-Oscar tweet history. Of course, his reaction to things like the show "Blackish" suggest he wouldn't be happy about "Moonlight" winning, what with its story about a gay black man and completely black cast.
The "La La Land" Best Picture acceptance speech calls out "repression" Before we found out the "La La Land" announcement was a mistake, the film's producers gave their entire acceptance speeches. Jordan Horowitz, who would later be the one who revealed the mistake, even made a small dig at Trump, saying that "repression is the enemy of civilization... the dreams we dream today will provide the love, the compassion and the humanity that will narrate the stories of our lives tomorrow."
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And at least one moment he’d probably have enjoyed bigly
White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer said this week Donald Trump wouldn't be watching the 2017 Academy Awards. That was probably a good idea, since lots of people in Hollywood had digs for the president during the award show. Even some of the ads played during the show were critical. Here are all the political moments from the Oscars.
