Donald Trump berated a female reporter in front of a 10-year-old boy during a White House event yesterday, as he faced questions about the USS Abraham Lincoln.
Reporter berated during ceremony
The President had invited teenage lifeguard Ryder Williams and the young boy he saved from drowning to be honoured in the White House. While answering questions after speaking with Williams, Trump was pressed on recent reports detailing horrific conditions onboard the USS Abraham Lincoln, which has been deployed for months in the Middle East.
CNN's Kristen Holmes tried to ask a question when he opened the floor, and Trump immediately began berating her. 'Quiet. Quiet. Quiet. You're very disrespectful in front of this young man. You're a loud, boisterous person. You're fake news,' he told her, pointing at the veteran journalist.
Press attacks amid Iran War
It's the latest instance of the Trump administration attacking the press when they ask questions about ongoing issues with the Iran War. Earlier this year, Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth asked a reporter why she was 'so rude' when she pointed out Iran was still firing missiles, despite the US saying they weren't.
Another journalist attempted to ask about the USS Abraham Lincoln, where two soldiers attempted to take their own lives. The ship has been at sea for more than 260 days, and there are reports of declining morale and low food supplies. Trump replied to her and said: 'This is fake news reporting from CNN.'
Conditions on the USS Abraham Lincoln
CNN was onboard the ship and said conversations with those onboard showed a 'genuine hardship alongside genuine resilience'. Strikes in the Strait of Hormuz prompted a rationing of food aboard earlier in the war, with soldiers recalling meals of tuna with noodles and corn dogs, along with weight loss.
The Navy said in a statement: 'Lincoln is operating in a highly contested environment where traditional supply hubs in the Middle East were disrupted by combat actions. In response, leadership prioritised mission-critical supplies: first food, then hygiene items, then mail.'
One soldier said: 'We've had black mould around the ship for a while. It's crazy to think that you can be just standing in line waiting for chow or even walking out of the shower and the ceiling drips mould onto your face, shoulders, arms, or head.'
The sister of one crew member onboard told the Guardian: 'I grew up in a United States where you have to be very respectful of the military, as they're making the ultimate sacrifice and protecting their country, and now you have the commander-in-chief and defence secretary dismissing their experiences and calling them liars. I'm really angry.'
