From the Liveblog of
Tuesday, August 26, 2025
Lebanese president apologizes after US envoy suggests local journalists are ‘animalistic’
Add ToI as a Preferred Source on GoogleNurit Yohanan is The Times of Israel's Palestinian and Arab world correspondent
The office of Lebanese President Joseph Aoun issues an apology after US special envoy Tom Barrack, scolded journalists in Beirut during a press conference.
At the press conference earlier today, Barrack was seen approaching the microphone amid a din from the journalists. He stepped up to the podium and said, “Be quiet for a moment. And I want to tell you something: The moment that this starts becoming chaotic, like, animalistic, we’re gone. So you want to know what’s happening, act civilized, act kind, act tolerant, because this is the problem with what’s happening in the region.”
In a statement, the Lebanese presidency writes that it “regrets the words that were mistakenly said by one of its guests on stage today… We wish to emphasize our full appreciation for all journalists and media representatives.”
Deputy US envoy to the Middle East Morgan Ortagus was also present at the meeting. Barrack’s office has not apologized as of yet.
השליח האמריקני טום ברק נזף בעיתונאים לבנונים במסע"ת אחרי פגישה בביירות. בנשיאות הלבנונית פרסמו התנצלות "על הדברים שנאמרו מעל הבימה שלנו על ידי אחד מהאורחים היום", והוסיפו "חשוב לנו להדגיש את הערכתנו לכלל העיתונאים ונציגי התקשורת" pic.twitter.com/FnXdo5pTID
— Nurit Yohanan (@nurityohanan) August 26, 2025
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