Donald Trump lashes out at ABC News reporter Rachel Scott during tense exchange on Dallas airport tarmac
US President Donald Trump has been caught in a tense confrontation with a female reporter after lunging towards her and shutting down her question.
US President Donald Trump has lashed out at an ABC News reporter on a Texas airport tarmac, repeatedly shutting down her questions as he prepared to leave Dallas.
The tense exchange unfolded on Thursday, September 10, as ABC News senior political correspondent Rachel Scott attempted to question Mr Trump about his pledge to give every American adult $US5000 if Republicans win the midterm elections.
“Not you, not you. Hey, not you,” Mr Trump, 80, said, wagging his finger at Scott, 33.
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By continuing you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy.Mr Trump emphasised his final “not you” by stepping towards the journalist and leaning down in her direction before turning to take questions from other reporters.
ABC News has since publicly backed Scott following the confrontation.
“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 in a statement.
Scott has not publicly addressed the incident beyond posting footage of the exchange on X alongside the caption, “My question to Trump tonight.”
It is far from the first heated exchange between Mr Trump and Scott, with the President repeatedly taking aim at the journalist and her reporting since returning to the White House.
During an appearance at the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool in May, Mr Trump turned towards a group of construction workers before describing Scott as “stupid,” “one of the worst reporters” and “a horror show.”
The President also declared her questions were “a disgrace to our country” after she questioned him about his focus on projects in Washington DC while the US was at war with Iran and Americans faced rising petrol prices.
The White House later shared footage of that exchange on X with the caption, “@POTUS destroys ABC Fake News reporter.”
Another fiery encounter unfolded during a White House Cabinet meeting in December 2025, when Scott questioned Mr Trump over US airstrikes on boats off the coast of Venezuela that his administration accused of carrying drugs.
“You are the most obnoxious reporter in the whole place,” Trump said when Scott asked if he would commit to releasing the full video of a recent strike that triggered allegations it could qualify as a war crime. “Let me just tell you, you are an obnoxious — a terrible reporter.”
Separate analyses by The New York Times and London-based nonprofit Airwars found US strikes in the region had killed at least 227 people during the past 12 months, none of whom had been formally charged with a crime.
The pair’s history of tense exchanges stretches back to Mr Trump’s 2024 presidential campaign.
During an appearance at the National Association of Black Journalists convention, Scott asked Mr Trump “why should Black voters trust you”.
“I don’t think I’ve ever been asked a question in such a horrible manner,” he responded.
“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,” he replied.
Later during the July 2024 interview, Mr Trump questioned whether then-Vice President Kamala Harris was really Black.
Mr Trump’s clashes with female journalists have also extended beyond Scott, with the White House forced to defend his language towards reporters in November 2025.
That month, the President described New York Times reporter Katie Rogers as “ugly, both inside and out” and snapped, “Quiet. Quiet, Piggy” at Bloomberg correspondent Catherine Lucey aboard Air Force One.
“Look, the president is very frank and honest with everyone in this room,” then-White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said in defense of Trump’s “piggy” remark. “I think everyone in this room should appreciate the frankness and the openness that you get from President Trump on a near-daily basis.”
Mr Trump has also repeatedly clashed with CNN’s Kaitlan Collins and New York Times reporter Maggie Haberman.
The President has taken to calling Haberman “Maggot” and on Tuesday, September 8, described her as “unattractive, both inside and out”.
The New York Times hit back the following day, accusing the President of attacking journalists over reporting he does not like.
“This is another all too common example of the president lashing out at coverage he doesn’t like and belittling journalists who report the facts,” the Times said in a statement on Wednesday, Sept. 9.
