Another Clash Between Trump and the Press: This Time, It Gets Personal
President Donald Trump has once again found himself at the center of controversy after targeting a female journalist over her looks. On Wednesday, the president called The New York Times reporter Katie Rogers "ugly," marking the third time in mere weeks that he’s publicly insulted a female reporter in personal terms. But here’s where it gets even more heated — his insult came just after Rogers co-authored an article analyzing signs of Trump’s aging while in office.
In a Truth Social post (https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/115616545250020843), Trump described Rogers as “a third-rate reporter who is ugly, both inside and out.” He also rejected the accuracy of her reporting, claiming, “They know this is wrong.” Curiously, Trump made no mention of Rogers’ male co-author but instead dismissed The New York Times entirely as a “cheap rag” and even went so far as to label it “an enemy of the people.”
In response, The New York Times stood firmly behind their journalist. A spokesperson told NBC News that the outlet’s reporting is “accurate and based on firsthand accounts of fact.” They added that personal insults don’t undermine their work and that their reporters will not be intimidated. The statement praised Rogers as a symbol of a free and independent press that holds leaders accountable and helps Americans stay informed about their government.
And this is part most people miss: this wasn’t an isolated comment. Just over a week earlier, Trump lashed out at ABC News correspondent Mary Bruce in the Oval Office when she brought up documents related to Jeffrey Epstein during a meeting with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. In front of the foreign dignitary, Trump scolded, “You know, it’s not the question I mind — it’s your attitude. You’re a terrible reporter.” He later added she was a “terrible person” and labeled ABC a “crappy company.”
Bruce had dared to ask about the 2018 murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi — a killing that U.S. intelligence later concluded had been orchestrated by the crown prince himself. Trump sidestepped the question, saying, “He knew nothing about it,” before admonishing Bruce: “You don’t have to embarrass our guests.” ABC News declined to provide an immediate comment.
That interaction came just days after another incendiary remark — this time directed toward Bloomberg reporter Catherine Lucey aboard Air Force One. When she asked Trump again about Epstein, he curtly snapped, “Quiet, piggy.” The comment drew swift attention, but White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt downplayed it, defending Trump as “frank, open, and honest.” She argued that this straight-talking approach was precisely why voters had re-elected him. Leavitt emphasized that the president dislikes “fake news,” explaining that he becomes frustrated when journalists, in his view, misrepresent him or his administration.
Her defense didn’t end there. Leavitt told the press that Trump’s bluntness was actually a sign of respect — contrasting him with previous leaders who, she implied, concealed their opinions. “He’s honest to your faces instead of talking behind your backs,” she said, contending that transparency was a defining trait of his leadership.
White House spokesperson Abigail Jackson also rejected the idea that Trump’s remarks revealed a gender bias. “The president doesn’t hold back — that’s part of his authenticity,” she told NBC News. “This isn’t about gender. It’s about Americans losing trust in the media.” According to Jackson, Trump’s directness remains a feature, not a flaw.
In a measured rebuttal, Bloomberg News stood by its correspondents, affirming that their White House reporters “perform a vital public service by asking questions without fear or favor.” Their statement reinforced the principle that good journalism means pursuing truth independently — even when it provokes hostility from those in power.
Still, Trump’s critics argue that his pattern of attacks, particularly directed toward women journalists, sends a troubling message about how dissenting voices are treated. Yet his supporters often see these clashes as further proof of his defiance against what he calls “media bias.” The debate over whether his tone signifies honesty or hostility isn’t going away anytime soon.
Worth noting: Trump’s harsh words haven’t been limited to female reporters. On Tuesday, during the annual turkey pardoning ceremony, he derided Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker as “a low-IQ person” and “a fat slob” after Pritzker moved to limit National Guard deployments in Chicago. With a touch of self-deprecation, Trump quipped, “I’d like to lose a few pounds too — just not on Thanksgiving.”
In September, he ridiculed late-night host Jimmy Kimmel as a “talentless bum” after Kimmel made on-air remarks about political commentator Charlie Kirk’s assassination. Around that same time, Trump accused ABC News journalist Jonathan Karl of being part of a “terrible, unfair network.” The president told Karl directly, “You’re not a wonderful person — frankly, you’re a terrible reporter.”
Whether one views these outbursts as raw honesty or targeted hostility depends largely on perspective. Are they proof that Trump rejects political correctness to speak his mind, or evidence that he uses insults to silence scrutiny? That’s the question many Americans — and perhaps some readers here — will continue to debate passionately in the comments.
