President Donald Trump berated a reporter in the Oval Office on Tuesday, August 4, 2026, after the journalist asked him a series of questions about his tariff policy. The exchange occurred as Trump was taking questions from behind his desk.
According to a video of the encounter, NBC News correspondent Jake Traylor asked Trump about his tariffs and the stock market. Trump responded by telling Traylor, "Don't ever talk again," and accused him of being "a nasty guy." The president also said, "You're a bad reporter."
The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The incident drew criticism from press freedom advocates, who said it was an attempt to intimidate the media.
This is not the first time Trump has clashed with reporters in the Oval Office. In previous instances, he has called journalists "enemies of the people" and has repeatedly attacked the press as "fake news."
