HUD Region II Administrator Lynne Patton coolly handled an ambush interview by a woke, combative Huffington Post reporter on the New York City subway Tuesday, video taken by the HuffPo reporter shows. Patton later called the ambush interview an “epic fail”. It was.
Ja’han Jones spotted Patton seated on the subway and politely introduced himself as a HuffPo reporter while recording video on his smartphone. Patton engaged him while Jones stood at a respectful distance while peppering her with questions and arguments about President Trump calling out Rep. Elijah Cummings (D-MD) for the rat-infested conditions of his Baltimore congressional district.
Jones posted the video in two segments. The videos are a bit jumpy at times as they are on a moving subway car. Patton parries Jones’ jabs with ease, not accepting his false premises and schooling him on HUD policy and who in government is responsible for the conditions in public housing–all while keeping an eye on her own smartphone.
Patton defends President Trump, patiently explaining how HUD works, the federal funding issue in Cummings’ district, that Baltimore and New York are vermin-infested and that in New York the rat infestation is not a socio-economic issue. That the videos did not go viral on the left is a testament to how well Patton handled the ambush interview.
Patton tells Jones she recently had to close a children’s school in Harlem because rats were dropping from the ceiling. Jones had no interest in that shocking story of Democrat child abuse, instead repeatedly attacking President Trump over his Baltimore comments.
Happened to catch up with @LynnePatton on the train and was eager to discuss her defense of Trump’s racist comments about the “infestation” of Baltimore. pic.twitter.com/AaQjUTBrwV
— Ja'han Jones (@_Jahan) July 30, 2019
— Ja'han Jones (@_Jahan) July 30, 2019
Patton and Jones carried on later on Twitter, with Jahan upset at being called “f***ing fake news”. Patton’s meme game is strong, very strong (Note: Patton was tweeting on her personal, not government account.)
The first thing she says in the second video is a lie, for the record. pic.twitter.com/b5bQROz4PS
— Ja'han Jones (@_Jahan) July 30, 2019
I guess the @baltimoresun @Newsweek & https://t.co/ji3i5i3gxR are liars too b/c they all reported the same thing. Being a good reporter doesn’t mean being combative. You barely let me answer. Even the @NYDailyNews said I’ve done more than anyone in my position, incl the @NYCMayor pic.twitter.com/KSw8j0gFIn
— 🇺🇸 Lynne Patton (@LynnePatton) July 30, 2019
We got off at the same stop and I asked if you’d like to elaborate. I gave you ample opportunity but you wanted to call me names instead.
Again, I’m telling Melania. https://t.co/cLPRgWXska
— Ja'han Jones (@_Jahan) July 30, 2019
Yes. We got off in Harlem since I was on my way to yet another @NYCHA townhall to help the residents of MY district, which is Region 2, NY & NJ. And the only reason why I called you fake news, my dear, is because you kept misquoting me. 🤷🏽♀️ #FACTS
— 🇺🇸 Lynne Patton (@LynnePatton) July 30, 2019
You kept claiming that I said the President gave $16B to Baltimore for “homelessness” when I clearly said “Cummings District” & your own video proved you were wrong, so yes, you are fake news. But thanks for the post! All you did was prove I ride the subway & that I know my shit pic.twitter.com/dmqmFBvPpl
— 🇺🇸 Lynne Patton (@LynnePatton) July 30, 2019
I did. Thanks for the post, @_Jahan! All you did was show the world that Republicans DO take the subway and that I’m calm, cool, collected & know my shit, while you are clearly combative and don’t fully understand how @HUDgov works. But thank you, my friend! pic.twitter.com/FEp3ZBOKjz
— 🇺🇸 Lynne Patton (@LynnePatton) July 30, 2019
Because you kept claiming I said the President gave $16B to Baltimore for “homelessness” when I clearly said “Cummings District” & your own video proved you were wrong, so yes, you are fake news. #BeBest
— 🇺🇸 Lynne Patton (@LynnePatton) July 30, 2019
Then I guess @Newsweek & @baltimoresun are wrong too b/c they reported the exact same thing 🙄 “Cummings’ congressional district received just under $15.7 billion in grants, benefits and other assistance from the federal government in Fiscal Year 2018.” 😘 https://t.co/0sukwHeCJl
— 🇺🇸 Lynne Patton (@LynnePatton) July 31, 2019
It’s federal dollars. It’s relevant b/c @TheRevAl & #MayorYoung told Trump to put his “money where our mouth is.” That said, this Administration has shown him the money. Now it’s time for @RepCummings to show us (and his constituents) the results! 🤷🏽♀️ #FACTS
— 🇺🇸 Lynne Patton (@LynnePatton) July 31, 2019
Pssst! Your video was an epic #FAIL. So was your attempt to be witty. But at least you tried. 🤷🏽♀️ #MAGA pic.twitter.com/3IIa38pKHO
— 🇺🇸 Lynne Patton (@LynnePatton) July 31, 2019