President Donald Trump sharply criticized a Reuters reporter Thursday after being asked whether his decision to participate in a tele-rally rather than campaign in person in Kansas was related to the demanding travel schedule he has maintained in recent weeks.
The exchange occurred as Trump departed an event in South Carolina. When asked whether he was avoiding the trip because he was tired of traveling, the president appeared to interpret the question as a challenge to his health and stamina.
"I feel perfect," Trump responded before directing a series of personal insults at the reporter.
The journalist, Jacob Bogage, a Pulitzer Prize-winning correspondent for Reuters, asked: "You're not going to Kansas. That's nothing to do with you being sick of traveling?"
Trump replied, "You are a sick guy. Reuters is terrible, by the way."
He then escalated his criticism beyond the substance of the question, targeting the reporter's physical appearance.
"Look at this guy. He's way out of shape," Trump said. "You are disgusting. Put yourself in shape. You look like hell."
The president took no further questions and ended the exchange.
The incident is the latest in a long-running pattern of confrontations between Trump and members of the press. Throughout his political career, Trump has frequently singled out journalists and news organizations for criticism, often questioning their credibility or motives. In some instances, however, his attacks have become personal, focusing on reporters' intelligence, character, or physical appearance rather than their reporting.
This marks at least the second notable verbal confrontation with a journalist within the past week. During an Oval Office event, Trump interrupted Andrew "Andre" Feinberg of The Independent as the reporter attempted to ask a question, telling him he "must have a mental problem" before moving on.
Media advocates and press freedom organizations have repeatedly expressed concern that personal attacks on journalists can contribute to a hostile environment for members of the news media, while Trump's supporters often argue that his aggressive exchanges reflect frustration with what they view as unfair coverage.
The latest exchange is likely to renew debate over the relationship between the Trump White House and the press corps, a dynamic that has frequently generated headlines throughout both of his administrations.
Pastor Da’Quarius Green , a 31-year-old leader of Elba Zion Missionary Baptist Church in Alabama, was shot on Dec. 23, 2025 and died several days later in the hospital after a domestic dispute at his home in Level Plains . Authorities have described the shooting as a “domestic incident” involving his wife, 𝐐𝐮𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐚 𝐌𝐚𝐬𝐬𝐞𝐲. Local news station WTVY reported "c ourt records show that Green was arrested on misdemeanor domestic violence charges 3 times in Houston County last year, with each of those cases dismissed. Also in 2024, a woman filed a protection order against Green in Houston County in which she believed him to be a danger," but did not confirm Mrs. Massey as the suspect. Various reports indicate the couple's children were present when he was shot in the head. In one instance, a woman who shared children with Green alleged that he repeatedly struck her , including once when she was pregnant. The sitution appears to be shaping int...