White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders on Wednesday ripped a reporter for alleging that President Donald Trump was "complicit" in the Kentucky school shootings that killed two students and injured 17 others.
"The fact that you're basically accusing the president of being complicit in a school shooting is outrageous," Sanders told NBC News White House correspondent Peter Alexander amid the tense exchange during the daily briefing.
"I'm not accusing the president of anything," Alexander responded.
The clash began when the correspondent asked Sanders what policy actions Trump was taking or directing to ensure that Tuesday's shootings not happen again.
"Students fearing for their lives while they're attempting to get an education is unacceptable," Sanders said.
"Certainly in this administration, and by this administration, the president believes that all Americans deserve to be safe in their schools and in their communities.
"We've tried to crack down on crime throughout the country," she added. "The president instructed his administration to make the recent crime wave a top priority.
"Some of the things that they've accomplished in that process and been focused on as they've charged more defendants with violent-crime offenses.
"They've charged the most federal firearm prosecutions in a decade and convicted gang members and took down drug trafficking in an attempt to create safer, better communities and certainly safer schools."
But Alexander then challenged: "Policy conversations?
"What is the policy that the president is willing to pursue or direct others to actively pursue to make sure these students are safe?"
Sanders then reiterated some of her previous answer before the correspondent asserted: " … Tell Americans how he feels about this issue and try to do what he can with the bully pulpit … "
" … I think he has, Peter. I'm sorry," Sanders said as things grew tense. "Hold on. I was polite and letting you finish. …
"Let me be very clear on this," she continued, before adding her "outrageous" comment.
"Ignoring the fact that the safety and security of our borders is very different," Sanders said.
"The president has been very clear and has instructed the top law-enforcement agency in this country to crack down on crime and to do everything they can to prevent these types of things."
Trump later posted this tweet about the attack:
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