President Donald Trump erupted in a social-media post Wednesday, lashing out at a journalist from The New York Times after her report suggested his schedule and energy levels have noticeably waned.
The article observed that the president has cut back domestic travel and public appearances compared with earlier in his first term. It also referenced a moment in which the president appeared to nod off during an official event. Rather than address the concerns substantively, Trump dismissed the reporting as part of a “hit piece,” and singled out one of the authors, calling her “ugly, both inside and out” and describing her as a “third-rate reporter.”
The outburst adds to a growing list of recent instances where Trump has personally attacked female journalists — including a widely condemned comment on Air Force One made less than two weeks earlier.
News organizations and press-freedom advocates have condemned Trump’s remarks, saying they reflect a pattern of intimidation and could threaten journalistic independence moving forward.