
Chelsea Clinton called out White House chief strategist Stephen Bannon on Twitter for “fat shaming” press secretary Sean Spicer.
The White House using fat shaming to justify increased opacity. 2017. https://t.co/pWqupoAOXu
— Chelsea Clinton (@ChelseaClinton) June 20, 2017
“The White House using fat shaming to justify increased opacity. 2017,” the former first daughter tweeted Tuesday.
Clinton’s tweet came one day after Bannon told a reporter via a text message that the reason for the recent spate of off-camera briefings was because “Sean got fatter.”
Clinton retweeted British author Brian Klaas, who called the excuse “pathetic and undemocratic.”
When asked why press briefings are now held off camera, Steve Bannon said "Sean got fatter." Pathetic & undemocratic https://t.co/sVM1R5iH9e pic.twitter.com/LkwFfQDhlm
— Brian Klaas (@brianklaas) June 20, 2017
White House correspondent Charlie Spiering of Breitbart News, which Bannon helped found, weighed in as well, saying, “It’s a joke people,” in response to Clinton.
“Oh ok. So using fat shaming to avoid answering questions about increasing opacity. Got it. 2017,” she fired back.
Oh ok. So using fat shaming to avoid answering questions about increasing opacity. Got it. 2017. https://t.co/RbUSc6ipZS
— Chelsea Clinton (@ChelseaClinton) June 20, 2017
Clinton’s tweet also drew a response from a national security think-tank president, Jim Hanson, who called her tweet a “PR-managed response from the humor-impaired left” and defended Bannon’s remark as “a joke.”
The daughter of former President Bill ClintonWilliam (Bill) Jefferson ClintonA leadership menagerie of metaphorical scapegoats How Democrats can defy the odds in 2022 Biden is thinking about building that wall — and that's a good thing MORE and 2016 Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton
Hillary Diane Rodham ClintonWhy does Bernie Sanders want to quash Elon Musk's dreams? Republican legislators target private sector election grants How Democrats can defy the odds in 2022 MORE retweeted Hanson, adding, “Just me as I was standing in line @Starbucks earlier. Fat shaming isn't a joke I find funny. Ever.”
Hi Jim! Just me as I was standing in line @Starbucks earlier. Fat shaming isn't a joke I find funny. Ever. https://t.co/cKIJR3UDnl
— Chelsea Clinton (@ChelseaClinton) June 20, 2017