US4 min(s) read
Donald Trump appeared to lose patience with an ABC News reporter after she attempted to question him about his controversial promise to hand Americans $5,000 if Republicans win the upcoming midterm elections.
The president was leaving Dallas on Thursday, September 10, when senior ABC News political correspondent Rachel Scott attempted to ask him follow-up questions about the proposed payments, announced by the US leader himself.
But Trump quickly shut her down, repeatedly pointing at the 33-year-old journalist and telling her: “Not you, not you. Hey, not you.”
As he delivered the final words, Trump stepped towards Scott and leaned down in her direction before turning his attention to other members of the press.
The exchange came after Trump had floated the idea of a $5,000 payment for every adult American if Republicans successfully retain control following the midterms.
Scott attempted to press the president for more information about the proposed payments as he made his way across the tarmac.
Rather than answering her question, Trump singled her out and appeared to make clear that he did not want to take another question from her.
His final “not you” was accompanied by a wagging finger and a step towards the reporter.
ABC News subsequently defended Scott and its wider Washington reporting team.
“We wholeheartedly support Rachel Scott and our entire Washington team who do an exceptional job delivering trusted and straightforward reporting to the public every single day,” an ABC News spokesperson said.
Scott herself did not issue a separate public statement about the confrontation, although she shared footage of the exchange on X alongside the caption: “My question to Trump tonight.”
The confrontation is the latest in a series of tense exchanges between Trump and Scott.
The president has repeatedly criticized the journalist during his second term, including an incident in May when he turned towards construction workers at the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool and described Scott as “stupid,” “one of the worst reporters” and “a horror show.”
Trump was responding to questions from Scott about his focus on Washington-based projects while the war in Iran and rising gas prices were dominating headlines.
He also described her questions as “a disgrace to our country.”
The White House's Rapid Response account subsequently shared footage of the confrontation, giving it the title: “@POTUS destroys ABC Fake News reporter.”
The pair also clashed during a White House Cabinet meeting in December 2025, where Scott questioned Trump about US airstrikes on boats off the Venezuelan coast which his administration alleged were carrying drugs.
When she asked whether he would commit to releasing the full video of a strike that had prompted allegations it could potentially constitute a war crime, Trump responded: “You are the most obnoxious reporter in the whole place.”
He continued: “Let me just tell you, you are an obnoxious — a terrible reporter.”
Separate investigations by The New York Times and Airwars have reported that US strikes in the region killed at least 227 people over the preceding 12 months, with none of those killed having been formally charged with a crime.
Scott's confrontations with Trump stretch back to the 2024 presidential campaign, whereby during an appearance at the National Association of Black Journalists convention, she asked the then-presidential candidate why Black voters should trust him.
Trump responded: “I don’t think I’ve ever been asked a question in such a horrible manner.”
He continued: “I think it’s disgraceful that I came here in good spirit. I love the Black population of this country, I’ve done so much for the Black population of this country.”
Later during that same interview, Trump controversially questioned whether then-Vice President Kamala Harris was really Black.
The latest incident comes amid a broader pattern of highly personal exchanges between Trump and women working in the White House press corps.
In November 2025, Trump called New York Times reporter Katie Rogers “ugly, both inside and out.”
Around the same period, he told Bloomberg correspondent Catherine Lucey: “Quiet. Quiet, Piggy,” while aboard Air Force One after she questioned him about Jeffrey Epstein.
Then-White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt defended the president's remarks.
“Look, the president is very frank and honest with everyone in this room,” Leavitt said.
“I think everyone in this room should appreciate the frankness and the openness that you get from President Trump on a near-daily basis.”
