During a recent agriculture roundtable, former US President Donald Trump engaged in heated exchanges with two female reporters, leading to accusations of “obnoxious” behaviour and being “totally unprepared.” This incident adds to a long history of Trump’s combative relationships with journalists, particularly when faced with questions he deems unfavourable.
The first confrontation occurred with Rachel Scott, a reporter from ABC News. Scott questioned Trump about whether he would instruct Pete Hegseth, a prominent figure, to release the full video footage of a September 2 strike on a suspected Venezuelan drug boat.
“I never said that. You said that, I didn’t say that. This is ABC Fake News,” Trump retorted, addressing his guests in the Cabinet room. He then stated that the decision rested with Hegseth and asserted that eliminating such boats saves approximately 25,000 American lives from overdose and drug-related deaths.
When Scott persisted, pressing for a commitment to releasing the video, Trump snapped, “Didn’t I just tell you that? You’re the most obnoxious reporter in the whole place.”
He continued, “Let me just tell you, you are an obnoxious – a terrible, actually a terrible reporter. And it’s always the same thing with you. I told you, whatever Pete Hegseth wants to do is OK with me.”
The issue of releasing the video has been a point of contention. While Trump stated previously that he had no objection to its release, Hegseth expressed reservations just last week. Speaking at the Reagan National Defense Forum, Hegseth stated, “We’re reviewing that right now,” arguing that public disclosure could potentially compromise ongoing operations.
Following the exchange with the ABC News reporter, Trump had another tense interaction with Laura Figueroa of New York Newsday. Figueroa attempted to inquire about Trump’s concerns regarding the midterm elections and the possibility of losing the Republican majority in Congress.
“At least 20 House Republicans have said they’re going to retire and not run again…” Figueroa began.
Trump interjected, “And Democrats also. Why don’t you mention them?”
He pressed further, “How many Democrats are going to retire? How many Democrats? No, no, tell me the number of Democrats also.”
After a pause, Trump questioned, “How come you only know the Republicans but not the Democrats?”
Figueroa responded that she had “came prepared” to ask him a question about Republicans.
Trump retorted, “No, you’re unprepared because you should know the Democrats. You’re totally unprepared.”
As of now, at least 23 Republicans have announced their retirement from Congress or that they will not be seeking re-election in 2026. Meanwhile, 17 Democrats are also not seeking re-election, bringing the total number of House incumbents stepping down before the midterms to 40.
These recent incidents echo past controversies involving Trump and female journalists. Just weeks prior, Trump reportedly called a female reporter on Air Force One “piggy” when she attempted to ask him about the Jeffrey Epstein files. He also labelled Catherine Lacey, a Bloomberg journalist, a “terrible reporter” during questioning about a separate issue just two days later.
The incidents highlight a pattern of contentious interactions between Trump and members of the press, particularly female journalists, when confronted with challenging or critical questions. These exchanges often involve personal attacks and accusations of bias or incompetence.
Here’s a breakdown of some key elements:
The ABC News Incident:
- Reporter Rachel Scott questioned Trump about the release of a video related to a strike on a suspected Venezuelan drug boat.
- Trump dismissed her question and called her “obnoxious” and a “terrible reporter.”
- The dispute centred on whether Trump had previously committed to releasing the video.
The New York Newsday Incident:
- Reporter Laura Figueroa attempted to ask about Republican retirements and the midterm elections.
- Trump criticised her for not being equally informed about Democratic retirements.
- He labelled her “totally unprepared.”
Previous Incidents:
- Trump has a history of clashing with journalists, including calling a reporter “piggy” and “terrible” on Air Force One.
- These incidents often involve personal insults and accusations of “fake news.”
Numbers of Retirements:
- At least 23 Republicans have announced their retirement or non-reelection.
- 17 Democrats are also not seeking re-election.
- The combined total of House incumbents stepping down is 40.
These incidents raise questions about the relationship between political leaders and the press, particularly the role of accountability and freedom of the press in a democratic society. The use of personal insults and accusations can be seen as an attempt to discredit journalists and undermine public trust in the media.
