President Trump Promises MRI Release in Heated Exchange
Former President Donald Trump has become embroiled in a fresh controversy after launching a personal insult at a female journalist during a press gaggle aboard Air Force One. The incident occurred on Sunday night as he returned to Washington D.C. from his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida, where he had celebrated the Thanksgiving holiday.
The confrontation began when reporters questioned Trump about renewed calls from Minnesota Governor Tim Walz for the public release of the president's recent MRI scan results. This follows a Thanksgiving Day post on Truth Social where Trump used a mental health slur against the lawmaker.
'You Would Be Incapable'
When a male reporter initially raised the issue of the MRI, Trump responded defiantly. 'They were perfect like my phone call where I got impeached. Absolutely perfect,' the president stated. 'If you want to have it released, I’ll release it.'
The situation intensified when an unidentified female reporter pressed for specifics, asking, 'Can you tell us what they were looking at?' After a brief back-and-forth to clarify the question, Trump dismissed the inquiry.
'I have no idea. It was just an MRI,' he said, before turning the question into a personal jab. 'It wasn’t the brain because I took a cognitive test and aced it. I got a perfect mark which you would be incapable of doing.'
Governor Walz's Concerns Over 'Fading' Health
The exchange comes after Governor Walz appeared on NBC News earlier on Sunday to reiterate his concerns about the president's fitness for office. Walz suggested that Trump was 'fading physically' and that his 'mental capacity' should be a serious cause for concern.
He contrasted the president's behaviour with typical Thanksgiving activities, stating, 'This guy is apparently in a room ranting about everything else. This is not normal behaviour. It’s not healthy.'
Trump first revealed he had undergone an MRI in November, describing it as 'very standard' and boasting that his doctor said it was 'the best result he has ever seen.'
A Pattern of Personal Attacks
This incident is not isolated. In recent weeks, President Trump has directed a series of vitriolic attacks at several female journalists.
Just days earlier, on Thursday, he lashed out at CBS News' Nancy Cordes, asking her 'Are you a stupid person?' after she challenged his statements on Afghan refugee vetting.
The previous Wednesday, he targeted New York Times reporter Katie Rogers, calling her 'a third rate reporter who is ugly, both inside and out.'
Earlier in the month, he told Bloomberg’s White House correspondent, Catherine Lucey, to be 'quiet, piggy' when she attempted to question him about the Epstein files aboard Air Force One.
In response to criticism over these remarks, the White House has defended the president's conduct, claiming the reporters had 'behaved in an inappropriate and unprofessional way' and asserting, 'If you’re going to give it, you have to be able to take.' The Independent has contacted the White House for further comment on the latest incident and a timeline for the release of the MRI results.
