US President Donald Trump shushes a journalist, as he makes a joint appearance with Vice President JD Vance (not pictured) in the Oval Office to announce a whistleblower program to encourage the public to report alleged fraud, at the White House in Washington, DC, US, October 20, 2026. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque
President Donald Trump snapped at multiple reporters during a White House appearance Tuesday, delivering a sharp warning to one journalist as questions flew about Russia’s war in Ukraine — and personally insulting another.
The president grew visibly frustrated as reporters competed to ask questions during an event announcing a new government fraud initiative.
“Wait, wait, wait!” Trump demanded at one point as he tried to control the questioning.
But the tension escalated during another exchange when Trump singled out a reporter who appeared to be trying to get his attention.
“Hey, I’m not pointing. You better — I don’t know who the hell you are, but you better be careful,” Trump said.
“Go ahead,” he added, turning to another question.
The reporter turned out to be Andrew Feinberg, The Independent’s White House correspondent, who responded to the tense back-and-forth just moments later on X.
“I had told him exactly who I was not five minutes before this exchange,” Feinberg wrote on X.
Trump later lashed out at another reporter who appeared to interrupt him, delivering a personal insult.
“Quiet. What’s wrong with you? You are a sick person!” Trump snapped. “No, I think there’s — I actually think there’s something wrong with you.”
Trump also interrupted another journalist during a question about France’s presidential election.
“Hold it, please. You’ll come. Relax,” he said.
Trump’s outbursts came as he took questions on several topics in the Oval Office, including the war in Ukraine, the riots in France and his administration’s new fraud initiative.