The US State Department has expelled National Public Radio (NPR) journalist Michele Kelemen from the press pool of reporters who accompany the Secretary of State on travel due to a recent media conflict with Mike Pompeo, CNN reported.

Earlier, the NPR radio station reported Pompeo swore at the American journalist for the radio station Mary Louise Kelly after their interview, because he did not like that she asked questions about Ukraine and former US ambassador Marie Yovanovitch. After the interview, Pompeo invited the presenter to talk to. Kelly said that the Secretary of State asked her if she believes that Americans care about Ukraine, and then asked her to show on the map where Ukraine is. The day after the interview, Pompeo issued a statement accusing Kelly of lying and violating journalism rules.

The Association said that the removal of Michelle from the rpess pool occurred a few days after the conflict between Pompeo and Kelly.

State Department reporters also noted that the US defends the rights of the media around the world, and consider this attitude to its own reporters unacceptable.