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Counsellor to the President Kellyanne Conway checks her phone after taking a photo. Picture: AFP/Brendan Smialowski
KELLYANNE Conway has broken her silence after sparking outrage for kneeling on a sofa in the Oval Office as President Donald Trump met with the heads of dozens of historically black colleges and universities.
The White House counsellor apologised on Tuesday, saying she “meant no disrespect”, but blamed a “vicious” journalist for the scandal.
“I was very busy today and didn’t follow a lot of it, but I know there are a couple of reports at least showing what happened. And what happened is we had the largest gathering of men and women to date in the Oval Office for a picture,” Ms Conway, 50, said on Fox News’ “Lou Dobbs Tonight”.
“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. I certainly meant no disrespect, I didn’t mean to have my feet on the couch.”
The journalist asked Ms Conway about the “deplorable hypocrisy” and “venom of the Left” to criticise the White House adviser but ignore photos of Former President Barack Obama with his feet on the Oval Office desk.
“It is venomous, it is vicious, it bothers my children to be frank with you. I have 24/7 Secret Service protection because people do wish us harm and people should take that very seriously,” Ms Conway said.
“I’m not a victim at all but people should take very seriously the import of their words when I meant no disrespect.
“But hey, Lou, if we started the trend here, where people are outwardly talking about greater respect for the Office of the President and its current occupant, then perhaps that’s something positive that came out. But I of course meant no disrespect.”
Kellyanne Conway sparked outrage for kneeling on a White House sofa. Picture: AP Photo/Pablo Martinez MonsivaisSource:AP
The adviser then blamed an unnamed reporter for the backlash.
“This came from a journalist that is not happy that Donald Trump is the President,” Ms Conway said.
“But I just want people to focus on the great work of the HBCU presidents and how honoured we were to have them here.”
Kellyanne Conway said she was kneeling on the couch to take a photograph. Picture: AFP/Brendan SmialowskiSource:AFP
Ms Conway again became the headline when she accidentally photobombed President Trump’s Monday meeting with dignitaries from US black colleges and universities on Monday.
Many media commentators and observers criticised Ms Conway’s show of “disrespect”, while others leapt to her defence.