Trump praises Pompeo on treatment of NPR reporter: ‘I think you did a good job on her’

President Donald Trump praised Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on his recent dispute with an NPR reporter, saying he “did a good job on her.”

Trump’s comments came during a Tuesday press conference on the administration’s plan for the Middle East. Pompeo, who was in attendance, received a standing ovation for his role in the plan after which Trump remarked that NPR reporter Mary Louise Kelly “couldn’t have done too good a job on you.”

“I think you did a good job on her, actually,” he said to laughter in the room.

Trump continued, asking Pompeo if he is running for Senate. “I guess the answer is no, after that,” he said.

Pompeo reportedly lashed out at Kelly after an interview Friday during which she asked a series of questions on Ukraine. According to an interview transcript, she asked Pompeo whether he owed former Ambassador Marie Yovanovitch an apology for her removal.

“I agreed to come on your show today to talk about Iran,” he said. “That’s what I intend to do.”

Kelly said after the interview that Pompeo met with her privately and yelled at her in an expletive-laden rant. She said he also demanded she identify Ukraine on a map, which she did.

Pompeo said in a statement issued Saturday that Kelly lied in “setting up our interview.” He ended by saying “Bangladesh is NOT Ukraine,” implying that Kelly, who has a master’s degree in European studies, was mistaken.

The Washington Post reported Sunday that email records show Pompeo’s staff was aware Kelly was going to ask about Ukraine, which goes against Pompeo’s initial claim.

The dispute escalated Monday after another reporter for the radio station was blocked from flying on the secretary’s plane on an upcoming trip to Ukraine. A spokesperson for NPR told The Hill the reporter, Michele Kelemen, was “not given a reason.”

The State Department Correspondents’ Association, which represents reporters covering the State Department, issued a statement Monday saying the department is “retaliating against National Public Radio.”

“We respectfully ask the State Department to reconsider and allow Michele to travel on the plane for this trip,” the statement said, according to multiple reports.

The State Department has not responded to requests for comment.

This story was originally published January 28, 2020 at 2:04 PM.