Trump Criticizes ABC Reporter Over Questions During War

On Thursday, President Donald Trump took issue with an ABC reporter’s inquiries about the projects he was pursuing amid the ongoing conflict in Iran, labeling the questions as “stupid.”

Reporter Rachel Scott asked, “Mr. President, you’re here against the backdrop of the war in Iran. Why are you focusing on all these projects now?”

Trump responded, “Because I want to keep this country beautiful and safe. This place was a disgusting place. It was an ugly place. You can’t see the dirt, but I can. They dumped 11 or 12 truckloads of trash into the lake. It had been left there for years. Our country should reflect beauty and cleanliness—not filth.” He reiterated, “That’s a very stupid question.”

Trump Defends Lincoln Memorial Repairs

He further questioned why Scott would ask about the need to fix the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool, which he described as a mess. “Do we need to take a load of filth out of the water in front of the Lincoln Memorial? That’s part of what made our country great—preserving its beauty,” he stated, expressing disdain for what he called a disgraceful inquiry.

Scott later shared her thoughts on social media.

Trump’s Abrasive Exchanges with Reporters

ABC News reached out to Fox News Digital for a comment, but there was no immediate reply. Trump has been known to harshly critique reporters during his time in office, often sparring verbally. In a past press conference, he branded ABC News as “corrupt.” He addressed questions about military deployments to the Middle East, interrupting the reporter before he answered.

At one point, Trump told a reporter, “You’re a very unpleasant person,” before moving on to another questioner. He expressed skepticism about ABC News, saying, “I think they’re terrible.” His comments generally reflected a pattern of denouncing media he disagrees with, emphasizing his distrust of certain news organizations.

In a closing remark, Trump stated, “I don’t want ABC News to do any more reporting.”