A free and independent press is neither a nuisance to be controlled nor a tool for political spectacle.
It is the Fourth Estate—protected by the Constitution, essential to democracy, and tasked with holding the most powerful office in the country accountable.
When a president responds to tough questions with personal insults and public humiliation, it does not demonstrate strength. Instead, it exposes unprofessionalism that undermines democratic norms.
President Donald J. Trump’s (R) long-standing pattern of verbally attacking journalists—especially women and journalists of color—represents a dangerous departure from appropriate presidential conduct. Disagreeing with the press is normal, but hostility toward the press as an institution, expressed through personal insults, is not.
During his first term, Trump regularly singled out April Ryan, a veteran White House correspondent, dismissing her as “a loser” and ordering her to “sit down” during a press briefing. He later accused her, without evidence, of asking racist questions. Ryan was not heckling; she was doing her job—pressing the administration for answers on behalf of the public.
Yamiche Alcindor was also targeted after asking about white nationalism, with Trump calling her question “racist” instead of addressing its substance. CNN’s Abby Phillip was told she asked a “stupid question,” while NBC’s Megyn Kelly faced a crude and notorious attack implying she was emotionally unstable because of her biology.
Recently, during an Oval Office exchange, Trump escalated this pattern by responding to a reporter’s legitimate question with a personal insult—asking whether she was “stupid.” The setting alone highlighted the seriousness of the moment: the seat of American power being used as a platform for public belittlement.
In early November, Trump told Bloomberg White House correspondent Catherine Lucey: “Quiet, piggy,” as she asked him a question about the Jeffrey Epstein Files as the president spoke to reporters on Air Force One.
These aren’t isolated incidents. They establish a pattern in which journalists are demeaned, delegitimized, and viewed as enemies. The consequences extend beyond hurt feelings. When the president mocks and vilifies the press, it signals to supporters that journalists can be harassed and threatened. It discourages investigation and silences honest reporting.
Never before in modern American history has the press faced such a persistent, personal, and presidentially approved verbal assault. Presidents are scrutinized precisely because of the power they hold. Journalists are not the opposition; they are the conduit through which the public demands accountability.
A president who cannot handle tough questions misunderstands the role. Attacking the messenger does not improve leadership. Instead, it weakens the democracy that leadership exists to serve.