White House mocks journalist with derogatory term after Trump lashes out
The White House has labelled a reporter with a derogatory term after he asked a question Donald Trump didn’t like.
The official X account Rapid Response 47 posted the video of Trump insulting The Independent reporter Andrew Feinberg.
President Donald Trump has lashed out at Andrew Feinberg. AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin
Trump was in the Oval Office promoting a new whistleblower program offering rewards of $A43,000 for exposing government fraud.
Feinberg then asked the president why someone would use the new program when an existing program offered far more.
Trump then turned on Feinberg.
"I don’t know who the hell you are, but you better be careful," the president said.
Feinberg later commented on X that he had told Trump who he was "not five minutes before this exchange".
When the reporter tried to ask another question, Trump got visibly angry and seemed to growl at him.
"What's wrong with you? Are you a sick person?" the president said.
"I actually think there's something wrong with you."
Feinberg wrote about the confrontation later.
"For the record, I had an annual physical earlier this month, and I can report I’m in perfect health," he wrote.
"I was doing my job, and I’ll be right back at it tomorrow."
President Donald Trump speaks in the Oval Office of the White House. AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin
JD Vance also posted video of the exchange, calling Feinberg an “imbecile”.
Insulting journalists has become a daily occurrence for Trump, who will demand to know where a reporter is from before lashing out.
The routine became unstuck on Monday when he got a question from conservative outlet Daily Wire about riots in France.
"I think that’s fake news. Who are you with?" Trump said.
When the reporter said she was from the Daily Wire, his demeanour changed.
"Oh, The Daily Wire is good. Sorry. Daily Wire is good."
Last year Trump told a reporter “Quiet, piggy” when she tried to ask him a question about the Epstein files.
In June this year, he confronted CNN anchor Kaitlan Collins for never smiling.
“But with a corrupt reporter standing right there, never smiles,” Trump said.
“You never see a young, beautiful woman who never smiles. I never see a smile on her face.
“I see her standing there with hatred in her eyes.”
When Collins tried to interject, he told her: “Be quiet”.
In April he demanded a Fox News co-host be taken off TV, criticising her appearance and voice.
“I am watching one of the Least Attractive and Talented People on all of Television, Jessica Tarlov,” Trump said.
“Her voice is so grating and terrible, I had to ‘turn her off!’”
A poll from Ipsos released on Tuesday showed Trump's approval rating at a record low.
Just 31 per cent of Americans approve of Trump, with 66 per cent disapproving.
While presidents are not on the ballot in midterm elections, their approval ratings historically have a major impact on how people vote.
Election Day is November 3.
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