Trump Erupts at Reporter Over Jet Question

President Donald Trump engaged in a heated exchange with an NBC News reporter during a Wednesday meeting with South African President Cyril Ramaphosa at the White House. The confrontation occurred after the reporter questioned Trump about the U.S. Air Force accepting a jet from Qatar, reportedly intended for potential use as a replacement for Air Force One.

The exchange took place as Trump was attempting to draw attention to his claims regarding farm violence in South Africa, specifically alleging a targeting of white farmers. He had requested the room’s lighting be dimmed to showcase a video depicting Black South Africans purportedly making threats.

According to reports, the reporter, Peter Alexander of NBC News, posed the question about the Qatari jet following Trump’s presentation. Trump responded with visible frustration, repeatedly questioning the relevance of the inquiry and accusing the reporter of attempting to deflect from the topic of South Africa.

“What are you talking about?” Trump exclaimed, before adding, “You’re going to get out of here.” He then launched a personal attack, stating, “Number one, you don’t have what it takes to be a reporter. You’re not smart enough.” He characterized the question as an attempt by NBC to “get off the subject” and dismissed it while acknowledging the jet was a “very nice thing” offered to the Air Force.

Trump then returned to his narrative about South Africa, lamenting the alleged deaths of white farmers and rebuking the reporter for focusing on the jet. He repeatedly told the reporter he “ought to be ashamed” and labeled him a “bad reporter.”

The incident highlights a continuing pattern of combative interactions between President Trump and members of the press, often involving personal attacks and accusations of biased reporting. While presidents have historically faced tough questions, Trump’s responses frequently prioritize discrediting the questioner over addressing the substance of the inquiry. The focus on the jet, a legitimate question regarding government assets and foreign relations, was effectively dismissed as a deliberate attempt to undermine his chosen narrative regarding South Africa, a situation requiring nuanced reporting and not simply a platform for unsubstantiated claims.