President Donald Trump can’t hide his distain for the press. In his eyes, too many news outlets are biased against him, so he never misses an opportunity to hurl insults and sometimes offensive comments at reporters, who are typically just doing their jobs.
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His beef with journalists goes back to his first term, when he first coined the phrase “fake news” to describe CNN, ABC News, NPR and even PBS. Trump’s second term has been no different. If we had a full list of every time the president escalated a fight with a reporter, we might be here all day. From him threatening to pull federal funding to recently calling a reporter “piggy,” here’s some of the many times Trump has attacked the press over the last decade.
‘Quiet. Quiet, Piggy’
On Nov. 14, the president was answering questions while on board Air Force One when the recently released emails from convicted sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein– a touchy subject considering Trump was named multiple times– was brought up. When a journalist from Bloomberg News tried to ask him a follow-up question on the subject, Trump turned to her and said, “Quiet. Quiet, piggy.“
Immediately, the president faced public backlash for his insensitive attack on the reporter. The incident came right before Congress overwhelming voted to force the Justice Department to release the Epstein files, the New York Times reported. Now, it’s up to Trump to sign the bill.
Reporter Brings Up Qatari Jet Gift
Back in May, President Trump met with South Africa’s president in hopes of building a stronger relationship between the two nations. While the meeting turned into a public set up of the African leader, it’s Trump’s comments to a NBC News reporter that also made headlines.
After being asked about Qatar’s $400 million gift to Trump, he told the journalist, “You need to get out of here. What does this have to do with Qatari Jet? They are giving the United States Air Force a jet, and it’s a great thing.” He then attacked the network. “NBC is trying to get off the subject of what you just saw. You are a terrible reporter. Number one, you don’t have what it takes to be a reporter. You are not smart enough,” he added.
Banning AP News for White House Press Pool
The Associated Press is one of the many news outlets at legal odds with the president. His “fake news” campaign has led to several lawsuits and further distrust between the press and the American people. But back in March, Trump shocked the world when he removed AP reporters and photographers from his press pool, the group of journalists covering the president’s day to day events and other newsworthy moments.
The outlet spent more than 44 days banned from the pool until they took it to court. In April, a federal judge ordered the White House to reinstate AP, the publication reported. Lawyers cited the First Amendments saying, “The government cannot punish the news organization for the content of its speech.”
Defensive Over Epstein
With questions swirling more than ever before about the Epstein files, Trump took his frustrations out on an ABC reporter– and the entire network— for asking a question. Trump and the Saudi Crown Prince were at the White House when the president berated ABC journalist Mary Bruce for asking about Epstein.
He first addressed Bruce’s “horrible, insubordinate and just a terrible question.” Trump then clarified his true feelings about the reporter. “It’s your attitude. I think you are a terrible reporter. It’s the way you ask these questions,” he said. The president then insulted ABC and threatened to pull their broadcast license.
Long Feud Between Jim Acosta, Trump
It seems like when you beef with Trump, you’ll likely be beefing forever. Back in 2018, then-CNN journalist Jim Acosta and Trump clashed over the reporter’s question about the Muller Investigation. The heated disagreement ended with Acosta snatching back the microphone and Trump calling him a “rude, terrible person” among other insults. Acosta was later banned from the White House.
In Jan. 2025, the president celebrated after Acosta announced he was leaving CNN. “Wow, really good news! Jim Acosta, one of the worst and most dishonest reporters in journalistic history, a major sleazebag, has been relegated by CNN Fake News to the Midnight hour, ‘Death Valley,’ because of extraordinarily BAD RATINGS (and no talent!),” Trump began on Truth Social. “Word is that he wants to QUIT, and that would be even better. Jim is a major loser who will fail no matter where he ends up. Good luck Jim!”
Trump Singles Out Black Reporter
On Sept. 19, the president was taking questions in the Oval Office when one reporter– later identified as Ebony McMorris of American Urban Radio Networks– asked him about sending National guard troops to Memphis.
Trump responded to the Black woman saying “Quiet. You’re really obnoxious.” McMorris responded asserting, “I’m not obnoxious, but I’m trying to ask you, what about your plans for Memphis?” The president then refused to answer the question saying, “I’m not going to talk to you until I call on you,” before calling on a different reporter.
‘Are You Talking to Me?’
In 2019, Trump got heated while answering questions about former President Joe Biden– then-former vice president– and his son, Hunter. Reuters journalist Jeff Mason asked Trump what he wanted the Ukrainian president “to do about Biden and his son” and instead of answering the question, Trump challenged the journalist.
“Are you talking to me?” he asked Mason, who responded “that was just a follow up of what I just asked you.” The president wasn’t hearing it though and continued pressing him to ask the Finnish president, who was also in the room, a question. “Did you hear me? Ask him a question,” Trump told Mason.
Trump Dodges Questions About $400 Jet from Qatar
We previously told you how the president faced backlash when he accepted a gift for the country of Qatar in the form of a $400 million jet. When an ABC reporter asked Trump about his decision, he became visibly angry and lashed out on her.
“You should be embarrassed asking that question,” he said. “They’re giving us a free jet.” Trump continued, “It’s not a gift to me. It’s a gift to the Department of Defense, and you should know better… Your network is a disaster. ABC is a disaster.”
Trump Trying to Defund PBS and NPR
Back in March, Trump launched a campaign to defund NPR and PBS. He said during a news conference that he would “love to” get rid of the outlets because he thinks they are biased against him. In response, NPR sued over the violation of its First Amendment free speech rights, when the Corporation for Public Broadcasting bowed to Trump’s pressure to cut off federal funding to NPR.
PBS sued the Trump administration three days after NPR filed their suit. A November settlement ruled in favor of NPR, according to ABC News.
Blaming DEI for Tragic DC Plane Crash
Days after Trump’s second inauguration, an American Airlines flight crashed with a Black Hawk helicopter over the Potomac River. In the wake of the tragedy which killed 67 people, the president blamed diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) and Democrats for the crash.
He defended his conclusion to CNN’s Kaitlan Collins after she questioned if he his conspiracy theory had any merit. She even pointed out how at the time of his remarks, the public hadn’t even known the identifies of any of the victims.
“You think that’s going to make a difference,” Trump responded. “They are a group of people that have lost their lives. If you want a list of the names, we can give you that, we will be giving that very soon,” he said. “I think that’s not a very smart question. I’m surprised coming from you,” Trump continued to Collins.
Trump Responds After July Epstein Memo
After a July report from the DOJ confirmed Epstein killed himself and that there was nothing more to their federal investigations, a reporter asked Trump about the ongoing scandal. “Are you still talking about Jeffrey Epstein? This guy’s been talked about for years,” Trump said in response. “Are people still talking about this guy, this creep? That is unbelievable. Do you want to waste the time?”
The president continued bashing the reporter. “I can’t believe you’re asking a question on Epstein at a time like this where we’re having some of the greatest success and also tragedy with what happened in Texas,” he added. “It just seems like a desecration.”
Trump on Going to ‘War’ With Chicago
After threatening to send the National Guard to Chicago and “go to war” with the city, Trump walked back his remarks after a reporter asked him. “When you say that, darling, that’s fake news,” Trump began nicely while on the way to New York to attend the US Open. Then things took a turn when the journalist tried to ask a follow up question.
“Be quiet, listen!” the president told the reporter. “You don’t listen! You never listen. That’s why you’re second-rate. We’re not going to war, we’re gonna clean up our cities. We’re gonna clean them up, so they don’t kill five people every weekend,” he added. “That’s not war, that’s common sense.”
‘Do You Ever Ask A Positive Question at CNN?’
CNN White House correspondent Alayna Treene asked Trump about the ongoing split in MAGA over Israel’s war with Iran. But before she could even finish her question, the president interrupted her. “Who are you with?” He asked before finding out Treene represented CNN.
He then called the network “fake news” and claimed, “fortunately nobody watches.” Even when the reporter tried again to ask her question, Trump once again interrupted her until she stopped talking. “Is anybody watching CNN nowadays? I haven’t seen it in a long time,” he said. Trump then asked, “Do you ever ask a positive question at CNN?”
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