President Donald Trump berated and silenced a reporter who questioned him about the Iran war and the deployment of thousands of Marines during a Sunday flight aboard Air Force One. He resisted answering questions about joint U.S.-Israel military action in Iran, which had reached the two-week mark the previous day.
Donald Trump avoids major war question from reporter
The March 15 press meeting took place as Donald Trump returned to Washington after a weekend of golf and a dinner for his MAGA Inc. super PAC. ABC News reporter Mariam Khan first asked about a fundraising email from Trump’s Never Surrender PAC.
The email featured a black-and-white photo of Trump saluting a soldier’s coffin during the March 7 dignified transfer of six servicemen killed in Kuwait. It promised subscribers access to “private national security briefings” for a fee. When Khan asked if using the image was “appropriate,” Trump responded, “I do. I didn’t see it. We have a lot of people who send things out.”
After claiming “no president has ever been better for the military,” Trump asked Khan who she worked for. When she said ABC, he responded, “ABC, I think it’s maybe the most corrupt news organization on the planet. I think they’re terrible. I don’t want any more from ABC.”
Khan then asked about reports that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth approved sending “an amphibious ready group” with a Marine expeditionary unit to the region. According to The Wall Street Journal, the deployment typically includes several warships and about 5,000 Marines and sailors. “Can you explain why we’re sending 5,000 Marines and sailors?” she asked.
Trump put his finger to his lips, shushed her, and said, “You’re a very obnoxious person.” Again, Khan asked, “Do you have a comment on the six service members who passed?” apparently referencing six airmen killed in a March 12 plane crash in western Iraq. Trump waved off the question and looked around, saying, “Go ahead. Who else?” This follows a pattern of Trump being dismissive of female journalists, particularly.
