'Obnoxious, Terrible': Trump Slams Reporter Over Question To Release Caribbean Sea Strike Video

Last Updated:December 09, 2025, 07:15 IST

Donald Trump verbally attacked a reporter, calling her “obnoxious” and “terrible,” after being pressed on his stance over releasing video of a deadly US strike in the Caribbean.

US President Donald Trump (File photo/AP)

US President Donald Trump lashed out at an ABC News reporter on Tuesday, calling him “the most obnoxious reporter in the whole place" and “a terrible reporter," as he faced renewed scrutiny over his shifting stance on releasing video footage of a controversial US military strike in the Caribbean Sea.

The confrontation unfolded during a press questioning hour while the President was asked about footage from a September 2 operation that killed nine people in an initial strike on a suspected drug-smuggling vessel and two more in a follow-on strike after the boat capsized.

The administration has come under intensifying pressure from Democrats to release the full, unedited video, which is now under review by Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth.

Trump last week said he saw “no problem" with making the footage public. However, on Tuesday, when ABC reporter Gordon pressed him on the discrepancy, the President denied ever suggesting he supported releasing the video and repeatedly insulted the journalist.

The clash began when Gordon said, “Mr President, you said you would have no problem with releasing the full video of that strike on September 2nd off the coast of Venezuela."

“I didn’t say that," Trump responded.

“You said that," Gordon repeated.

“I didn’t say that. This is ABC fake news," Trump shot back.

When Gordon attempted again to cite Trump’s earlier remarks, the President interrupted, “Whatever Hegseth wants to do is okay with me."

Moments later, the President returned to defending the strike, saying, “They were trying to turn the boat back to where it could float. And we didn’t want to see that because that boat was loaded up with drugs."

He also claimed, “Every boat we knock out of the water, we save 25,000 American lives," and asserted the operation had sharply reduced drug trafficking by sea.

However, the exchange turned even more heated when Gordon attempted one more time to clarify Trump’s position.

“Are you committed to releasing the full video?" the reporter asked.

“Didn’t I just tell you that?" Trump replied, adding, “You’re the most obnoxious reporter in the whole place. Let me just tell you, you are an obnoxious, a terrible, actually, a terrible reporter. And it’s always the same thing with you."

The reporter’s question came as lawmakers on Capitol Hill demanded that the Pentagon hand over unedited footage of all strikes on suspected drug-smuggling vessels.

The defence bill scheduled for a House vote this week includes a provision threatening to withhold a portion of Hegseth’s travel budget if the Department of Defence does not comply.

Hegseth has said officials are reviewing the video but cautioned that any release would have to be handled “very responsibly."

The classified briefings that lawmakers have received have raised new questions among Democrats about the legality of firing a second missile at survivors who, according to those who viewed the footage, “did not appear to continue the fight."

Republicans, meanwhile, have largely defended the operation.

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