ABC’s World News Tonight anchor David Muir appeared to take a swipe at President Barack Obama on Tuesday night when he juxtaposed the tense situation in Baltimore with the President holding a State Dinner roughly 40 miles away at the White House for Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.
Muir anchored ABC’s evening newscast from Baltimore and led off the program with just under five minutes of reporting from the Charm City’s streets on the riots that took place Monday afternoon and evening and the clean-up efforts throughout the day on Tuesday.
At the conclusion of his segment, Muir made this observation about the State Dinner taking place while Baltimore schools and landmarks like the National Aquarium remain closed:
There is no official word on when school reopens here, but the teachers are prepared. Baltimore conventions have been canceled. The National Aquarium is closed. The Baltimore Marriott has allowed some customers to cancel their rooms without charge. And tonight, we remind you, an elegant state dinner scheduled at the White House, just about 40 miles from here.
All told, ABC’s World News Tonight was the only network evening newscast to mention the dinner on Tuesday. While NBC Nightly News brought up the point that the President responded to the riots in Baltimore during a press conference with Abe, it neglected to cite the lavish dinner slated for Tuesday night at the White House.
The relevant portion of the transcript from ABC’s World News Tonight with David Muir on April 28 can be found below.
ABC’s World News Tonight with David Muir
April 28, 2015
6:35 p.m. EasternDAVID MUIR: There is no official word on when school reopens here, but the teachers are prepared. Baltimore conventions have been canceled. The National Aquarium is closed. The Baltimore Marriott has allowed some customers to cancel their rooms without charge. And tonight, we remind you, an elegant state dinner scheduled at the White House, just about 40 miles from here.
