Indian-origin woman confronts Sean Spicer, asks him how it ‘feels like to work for a fascist’
In an unusual encounter, an Indian-American woman confronted White House press secretary Sean Spicer at a store and asked him repeatedly how it feels to be working for a “fascist” evoking a “racist” response from the top Trump administration official.
Shree Chauhan, 33, posted a video of Saturday’s encounter on Twitter, showing Mr Spicer’s reaction as she peppers him with questions that include, “How does it feel to work for a fascist?” and “How do you feel about destroying the country?” Ms Chauhan also asked Mr Spicer about Russia and accused President Donald Trump of committing treason.
In the video, which has gone viral, Spicer is heard saying that the US is “such a great country that allows you to be here”. Ms Chauhan described his remarks as racist. “That is racism and it is an implied threat. Think about the sheer audacity of Mr Spicer to say that to my face with a smile, knowing that he is being recorded on video and the position of power he holds in our government,” she said.
Ms Chauhan described Mr Spicer’s response to her question as a threat to her citizenship. “I am still stunned by the boldness of having my citizenship threatened on camera. I was not polite. But when does being impolite mean that I should be thrown out of the United States of America? The country I was born in, the country I was raised in, the country I love despite its flaws,” she said.
According to Ms Chauhan, she was in a local Apple store to get her iPhone fixed when she spotted Spicer. “I realised what an enormous opportunity it was to get answers without the protections normally given to Mr. Spicer.”