Photo: Getty Images
President Donald Trump became confrontational with ABC News correspondent Rachel Scott on Thursday (September 10) after she questioned his proposal to give Americans $5,000 if Republicans retain control of Congress in the November midterm elections.
“Mr. President, on the checks: The U.S. is still $40 trillion in debt. If your economic policies are working, why do you need an incentive for people to turn out to vote?” Scott asked Thursday night.
“I didn’t do it for turning out the vote, I did it as a reward for people having to put up with five years and four years of a horrible situation caused by Biden,” Trump replied. “You look at the border, you look at the crime.... It’s almost a reward for the people having to put up with Biden’s policies.”
When Scott tried to follow up by asking about Trump’s previous proposals for tariff refund checks, Trump interrupted her and repeatedly said, “Not you.”
He then leaned toward Scott and said, “Your network and you, you’re the worst.”
Trump’s latest exchange with Scott is not their first tense interaction. During a 2024 National Association of Black Journalists convention interview, Scott confronted Trump over his past comments about Black Americans and journalists, citing his false claims about the birthplace of political rivals, his remarks telling four congresswomen of color to “go back” where they came from, his descriptions of Black district attorneys and his attacks on Black journalists.
She then asked why Black voters should trust him after he had used that language before the president replied, “You don't even say hello. Who are you? Are you with ABC? Because I think they're a fake news network. A terrible network.”
During his first presidency, in 2018, Trump had separate confrontations with three Black women journalists: CNN’s Abby Phillip, Black Press USA's April Ryan, and PBS NewsHour correspondent Yamiche Alcindor.
He called Phillip’s question “stupid,” referred to Ryan as a “loser” who didn’t know “what the hell she’s doing” and accused Alcindor of asking a “racist question.”
Journalism professor Ava Thompson Greenwell told the International Women’s Media Foundation that Trump’s treatment of Black women journalists stands out because there are relatively few Black women in the White House press corps.
“When he goes after Black women because their numbers are so few, it just stands out more,” Greenwell said.
The Black Information Network is your source for Black News! Get the latest news 24/7 on The Black Information Network. Listen now on the iHeartRadio app or click HERE to tune in live.