President Donald Trump, it seems, has been in a grumpy mood.
TL;DR
- President Trump criticized journalists regarding Epstein files and Jamal Khashoggi's assassination.
- He suggested revoking ABC's license due to perceived bias and inaccurate reporting.
- Trump called a journalist a "terrible person" for questioning Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
- This follows previous incidents of Trump attacking reporters, including a female Bloomberg News correspondent.
Over the past day, he's criticized three journalists in the Oval Office regarding inquiries about the Epstein files' release, which the House recently overwhelmingly voted for public disclosure, and the assassination of Washington Post writer Jamal Khashoggi.
“I think the license should be taken away from ABC,” Trump told a reporter Tuesday evening, seated beside Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. “Because your news is so fake, and it’s so wrong.”
Trump also stated that Federal Communications Commission Chair Brendan Carr ought to be “look at” the network’s license, as ABC is “97% negative to Trump” and consequently “not credible.”
The dispute started after an ABC journalist questioned Trump about why he wouldn't direct his administration to release the Epstein files, given his support for a congressional vote to do so. (Trump had previously strongly resisted the files' disclosure, only changing his stance once it was evident the House had sufficient votes; the bill's outcome in the Senate remains uncertain.) This same journalist had previously inquired about the Trump Organization's commercial activities in Saudi Arabia and directly questioned the crown prince regarding Khashoggi's murder.
Trump reacted instantly. “You’re mentioning somebody that was extremely controversial,” he declared, halting the inquiry concerning Khashoggi. After MBS provided a measured reply—labeling the killing “painful” and stating Saudi Arabia had “improved our system to be sure that nothing [like that] happened”—Trump interrupted once more, charging the journalist with attempting to “embarrass” his visitor. Shortly thereafter, he referred to the reporter as a “terrible person.”
It was only days after Trump made headlines for barking at a female Bloomberg News correspondent to be “quiet, piggy” aboard Air Force One when she asked about Epstein.
Trump’s behavior has inspired outrage from press freedom groups and concerns about how he treats female reporters.
The president’s Oval Office clash came right before the House voted to force the release of Epstein-related documents, an effort originally led by Democrats and a small faction of Republicans against Trump’s wishes. Trump initially opposed the bill, but reversed himself over the weekend and said Monday he would sign it if it reaches his desk.His attacks on the press, however, echoed earlier episodes throughout his political career. At the National Association of Black Journalists convention in 2024, Trump told ABC’s Rachel Scott she was “nasty” and “hostile” when she questioned him about his history of racist comments. He has also called reporters “terrible,” “obnoxious,” or “the worst.” He also had a series of run-ins with several journalists who aggressively covered him, including The New York Times’ Maggie Haberman and CNN’s Jim Acosta.
