Trump Criticizes ABC Reporter Over Video Release
On Monday, President Donald Trump took aim at ABC News White House correspondent Rachel Scott when she inquired about his plans to make available a second video related to an attack on a vessel linked to narco-terrorism.
Army Secretary Pete Hegseth faces mounting pressure from legislators to release unedited footage of the September 2 attack in the Caribbean, which resulted in 11 fatalities. During a White House meeting focused on U.S. agriculture, Trump didn’t mince words when responding to Scott’s question about the video.
“Are you going to release the full video?” Scott asked.
“Didn’t I just say that?” Trump replied, adding, “You’re the most unpleasant reporter in this room.” He continued, “You are an obnoxious, terrible reporter. And it’s always the same for you.” Hegseth later commented that he would do whatever he deemed appropriate regarding the video.
Authorities have confirmed that the vessel was attacked four times, with the initial strike resulting in the deaths of nine of the eleven individuals on board. A second wave of attacks occurred about 40 minutes later, eliminating the remaining two survivors.
Legislators are pushing for a bill that would mandate the Department of Defense to provide the complete footage to both the House and Senate Armed Services Committees. If the Department fails to comply, it risks losing 25% of its travel budget.
Trump mentioned he would defer the final decision to Hegseth but indicated a willingness to release the video. Hegseth expressed concerns about potentially revealing sensitive sources and methods used during the operation.
In a previous encounter, Trump clashed with ABC’s Mary Bruce during a Nov. 18 Oval Office meeting, even suggesting the revocation of ABC’s broadcast license. This stemmed from the network’s alleged failure to correct inaccuracies related to Vice President Kamala Harris’ statements about the 2017 Charlottesville riots.
Moreover, ABC News has reportedly agreed to pay Trump $15 million in December 2024 following a false claim made by host George Stephanopoulos regarding Trump’s alleged misconduct.
FCC Chairman Brendan Carr hinted on a show in September that ABC could face repercussions if it didn’t take action against late-night host Jimmy Kimmel for misleading remarks about Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk.
