For the second time in 24 hours, former President Donald Trump launched into an explosive tirade from the Oval Office, this time threatening to ban a major broadcaster after being questioned about the impending release of Jeffrey Epstein-related documents.
A Lavish Welcome Overshadowed by Fury
The incident occurred during a lavish welcome for Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman. The meeting was already tense after an ABC News reporter questioned Trump about the murder of Washington Post journalist Jamal Khashoggi, for which the UN has officially found the Saudi state responsible.
When the same reporter posed a second question, this time concerning the Epstein files, Trump was hurled into a tailspin, leading to an extraordinary on-camera meltdown.
The Explosive Confrontation and Licence Threat
Challenged on why he was waiting for a Congressional vote to release the files instead of acting unilaterally, Trump did not address the substance of the query. Instead, he launched a personal attack on the journalist, stating, "It's not the question that I mind. It's your attitude. I think you are a terrible reporter."
He vehemently denied any association with the disgraced financier, claiming, "I have nothing to do with Jeffrey Epstein. I threw him out of my club many years ago because I thought he was a sick pervert." He then shifted focus to prominent Democrats, naming Bill Clinton and others as being close to Epstein.
The confrontation reached its peak when Trump directly threatened the broadcaster's operating licence. "I think the licence should be taken away from ABC," he declared, labelling their news "so fake and so wrong." He repeated the threat for emphasis before concluding his remarks.
A Pattern of Outbursts Emerges
This Oval Office incident follows another furious outburst less than 24 hours earlier, where Trump lashed out at a female reporter on Air Force One, barking "Quiet, piggy" at her after she also asked about the Epstein case. These consecutive meltdowns occur as Congress moves forward with a vote to release more files related to the Epstein scandal, placing the former president's reactions under intense scrutiny.
