President Donald Trump recently instructed a female reporter to be “quiet” during a press exchange and dismissed former President Barack Obama’s comments on women in leadership as “ridiculous,” reports BritPanorama.
The incident occurred as Trump spoke to reporters outside the White House before heading to a college football game in Tennessee. The female journalist questioned whether Trump intended to limit the White House press pool to outlets that only support him, following his recent bans of CNN, MS NOW, and Politico. A federal judge intervened, blocking the ban, but Trump barred CNN from traveling with him on Air Force One and instead allowed LindellTV.
Trump responded to the reporter, stating, “No, no. I want real news, not fake news like you. Listen, I want real news. I love an open free press. What I don’t like is the fake press.” As the same reporter followed up with a question, Trump abruptly interrupted her.
“Wait wait, quiet,” he insisted, pointing his finger. “What I don’t like is fake news. And they’re fake news.”
Trump’s historically confrontational relationship with the media has included accusations of bias, as well as personal insults aimed particularly at female reporters. Earlier this year, he criticized CNN reporter Kaitlan Collins, claiming she exhibited “hatred in her eyes” and did not smile. Last November, he told a female Bloomberg journalist, “Quiet, piggy,” when she inquired about Jeffrey Epstein.
On the same day, Trump also reacted to Obama’s assertion that women in government might yield better outcomes. Obama suggested that having women lead governments for a trial period could lead to improvement, a viewpoint Trump quickly dismissed. “It’s ridiculous,” he said. “I love women. I think they’re great. But what a ridiculous statement that is.”
During the remarks, Trump addressed several issues, including the United States’ stance on the development of artificial intelligence, which he described as “super intelligence.” He also urged Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to pursue negotiations to resolve the ongoing conflict with Russia, asserting that the U.S. maintains “total control” over the Strait of Hormuz.
The dynamics of Trump’s interactions with the press continue to reflect an ongoing theme of contention, revealing the complexities of media relations in modern governance.
