Donald Trump has spent the months ahead of the midterm elections reaffirming his opposition to the free press, and he’s only growing more combative as Election Day nears. The president snapped at reporters again on Tuesday, yelling and lashing out multiple times during an Oval Office press gaggle.
“Quiet, QUIET!” Trump commanded one reporter, before snarling, “What’s wrong with you? Are you a sick person? I actually think theres something wrong with you.”
In another on-camera moment, he delivered an ominous warning to someone in the press gaggle. “Hey! I don’t know who the hell you are but you better be careful,” he scolded, while raising a finger to the reporter in question.
It’s by no means the first time Trump has verbally lashed out at reporters in recent weeks, usually directing his ire toward those who dare to ask him an actual question instead of praising him. Last month, he yelled at CNN host Kaitlan Collins after spotting her at the U.N. General Assembly. The president seemed to think that his attempt to ban the network from the White House press pool should also bar them from covering him anywhere he ventured. Trump’s attempt to ban CNN, Politico, and MS NOW from the White House has since been blocked by a federal judge.
Trump is taking out his frustration on conservative media, as well. He attacked Fox News on Truth Social on Monday, writing that the network “spends more time defending Dumocrats, and putting on their views versus their Republican opponent, than at any time in the History of FoxNews.”
A few hours later, he lashed out at a reporter for The Daily Wire while taking questions outside of the White House. “That’s fake news,” Trump said when asked about French President Emmanuel Macron essentially blaming him for the rioting in France. “Who are you with?”
“Mary Margaret with The Daily Wire,” the reporter replied.
“Oh, The Daily Wire is good,” Trump said. “Sorry, The Daily Wire is good.”
