US President Donald Trump on Thursday called a female reporter “stupid” during a press briefing at his Florida estate, continuing a pattern of derogatory remarks aimed at women in the media.
The exchange occurred as Trump answered questions about the vetting of Afghan nationals in the United States. Two National Guard soldiers were shot near the White House on Wednesday, allegedly by an Afghan national admitted to the country following the 2021 withdrawal of US forces from Afghanistan.
When asked why he blamed his predecessor, Joe Biden, despite some officials in his administration asserting that resettled Afghans had been thoroughly vetted, Trump responded sharply:
“Because they let them in,” he said, holding up a photograph of a US military plane carrying people fleeing Afghanistan. “They came along with thousands of other people that shouldn’t be here, and you’re just asking questions because you’re a stupid person.”
Trump’s brash rhetoric is a hallmark of his presidency, but he has frequently directed particularly harsh insults at women journalists. On Wednesday, he criticized a New York Times article on his age and fatigue, calling the female author “ugly.” Earlier this month, he labeled another woman journalist “piggy” and a separate reporter “a terrible person.”
