Woman faints at White House briefing

A young woman fainted during the White House press briefing on Tuesday, abruptly ending the event.

The woman, who was wearing a White House intern badge, had been standing throughout the hourlong briefing but collapsed during a final question on the president’s pending executive order on protections for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender workers. [WATCH VIDEO]

{mosads}The fainting spell led press secretary Josh Earnest to end the briefing, and he and other aides rushed back to the press office to find water.

Deputy press secretary Eric Schultz returned quickly with a bottle of water for the woman, who was sitting and alert. Earnest reemerged shortly after to check on her health.

A White House pool report released later said the woman was working the first day of her internship and was attending the briefing with other interns.

In October, a presidential speech on ObamaCare in the Rose Garden was temporarily halted when a pregnant woman standing behind the president nearly fainted. The president and other attendees stopped to keep her from falling.

“I got you, you’re OK,” the president said at the time. “This happens when I talk too long.”

Tuesday’s incident occurred on Earnest’s second day as press secretary, where the final questions are rapidly becoming must-see TV.

On Monday, Earnest engaged in a back-and-forth with Real Clear Politics White House correspondent Alexis Simendinger, who was upset he had not mentioned a call between President Obama and Russian President Vladimir Putin during a previous question about whether Obama had reached out to any world leaders over Iraq.

“Alexis, you don’t have to get all exercised about this,” Earnest said. “I was asked if the president had conversations with world leaders about the situation in Iraq.”

On Tuesday, Earnest led his briefing by telling reporters that the president had spoken to British Prime Minister David Cameron.