In a heated exchange in the Oval Office, President Donald Trump lashed out at ABC News’ Chief White House Correspondent, Mary Bruce, for pressing Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MBS) about the 2018 killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi.
The confrontation, which occurred during a high-profile visit by the Saudi leader, saw Trump call Bruce’s question “horrible,” “insubordinate,” and “terrible,” before launching a direct attack on her network.
Defending the Saudi Guest
Mary Bruce addressed her question directly to the Saudi Crown Prince, stating: “Your Royal Highness, the U.S. intelligence concluded that you orchestrated the brutal murder of a journalist. 9/11 families are furious that you are here in the Oval Office. Why should Americans trust you? And the same to you, Mr. President.”
President Trump immediately interrupted and defended his guest, stating: “You don’t have to embarrass our guest by asking a question like that.”
The President then attempted to minimize the gravity of the 2018 murder: “A lot of people didn’t like that gentleman that you’re talking about,” adding the controversial line, “Whether you like him or didn’t like him, things happen.” Trump has previously disputed the CIA’s conclusion that MBS ordered the assassination.
The Reporter and the Journalist
- Mary Bruce: Bruce is the Chief White House correspondent for ABC News. The President attacked the network, labeling it a “crappy company” and “fake news,” and went so far as to threaten that its broadcasting license “should be taken away.”
- Jamal Khashoggi: Khashoggi was a US-based Saudi journalist and a prominent critic of the Saudi Arabian government. He was murdered on October 2, 2018, after entering the Saudi consulate in Istanbul, Turkey. His death, which included his body being dismembered and never publicly recovered, provoked intense international condemnation. MBS stated during the exchange that the killing was painful and “a huge mistake.”
The Epstein Files Question and ‘Piggy’ Insult
The exchange worsened when Bruce followed up with a question regarding the Jeffrey Epstein files, asking the President why the White House was waiting for congressional action to release more details, suggesting they “Why not just do it now?”
Trump responded by insulting Bruce personally, stating:
“It’s not the question that I mind; it’s your attitude. I think you are a terrible reporter. It’s the way you ask these questions.” He concluded by calling her “a terrible person and a terrible reporter.”
This confrontation came just days after Trump drew widespread outrage for calling another female reporter, Catherine Lucey of Bloomberg News, “piggy” and telling her to be “quiet, piggy” while she was asking about the same Jeffrey Epstein files aboard Air Force One.