Trump Has Intense Back and Forth With Reporter
In a heated and highly visible moment from the Oval Office on Tuesday, President Donald Trump didn’t hold back when ABC News correspondent Mary Bruce fired off a barrage of tough questions — not just at him, but at Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MBS), seated beside him. What followed was a combustible exchange that reignited long-standing controversies around foreign influence, media credibility, and Trump’s unapologetic style of confrontation.
Bruce opened with sharp inquiries that struck at the heart of ethical concerns and foreign policy criticism: “Is it appropriate, Mr. President, for your family to be doing business in Saudi Arabia while you’re president? Is that a conflict of interest?”
Then she turned directly to the crown prince with an even more pointed follow-up — referencing the CIA’s 2018 conclusion that MBS orchestrated the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi. She didn’t stop there, noting the anger of 9/11 families about his presence in the White House.
Trump’s response was swift — and scathing. “Fake news. ABC fake news. One of the worst in the business,” he said, after confirming Bruce’s affiliation. He dismissed concerns over potential business conflicts, declaring, “I have nothing to do with the family business,” and defended his family’s dealings as minimal in scope with Saudi Arabia.
But the most dramatic moment came as Trump launched into a full-throated defense of MBS, contradicting his own administration’s intelligence assessment. “He’s done a phenomenal job,” Trump said of the crown prince. “You mentioning somebody that was extremely controversial… things happen, but he knew nothing about it. And we can leave it at that.”
He chided Bruce for the nature of her question, saying, “You don’t have to embarrass our guest by asking a question like that.”
MBS, often media-shy in such settings, responded with a careful yet striking statement, calling the Khashoggi incident a “huge mistake” and claiming that his regime took “all the right steps” to investigate and reform. He acknowledged the grief of 9/11 families but attempted to redirect focus toward the broader U.S.-Saudi relationship, referencing how Osama bin Laden “used” Saudis in the attacks to deliberately sabotage that alliance.
The tension escalated further when Bruce pivoted to another issue looming in public discourse: Jeffrey Epstein. When she pressed Trump on why he hadn’t released the Epstein files before the upcoming House vote, he responded not with policy details, but personal criticism. “It’s not the question that I mind. It’s your attitude. I think you are a terrible reporter.”
He went even further, suggesting that ABC’s broadcast license should be revoked — a rare and controversial assertion about press freedom. “The license should be taken away from ABC because your news is so fake. And it’s so wrong,” Trump said, urging FCC Chairman Brendan Carr to take action.