White House spokesman Josh Earnest made an off-color joke on Monday to ABC News reporter Lana Zak after she asked about Donald Trump’s bizarre request for both he and Hillary Clinton to take a drug test before the next presidential debate.
"So you’re telling me the candidate who snorted his way through the first two debates is accusing the other candidate of taking drugs? That’s a curious development in the campaign," Earnest said. "That’s my response."
The White House press pool audibly gasped. CNN’s Michelle Kosinski followed up by asking if Earnest was serious in his response.
"I’m trying to have a little fun," Earnest said sheepishly. "You guys are so serious today."
The room erupted in laughter. Kosinski scolded Earnest and said that it was not Friday. Earnest said that he was expecting more chuckles from the reporters and blamed his flawed delivery of the joke for the lack of initial laughter.
Prior to Zak’s question, a majority of the questions during the White House press briefing were focused on the launch of the Iraqi offensive to retake Mosul, the country’s second largest city, from the Islamic State and what the humanitarian response would be to help those fleeing the city.
Trump raised some eyebrows during the first presidential debate for his constant heavy sniffing into the microphone while speaking.
Many of Trump’s attacks against Clinton have focused on her health, going as far as to claim that she was on drugs.