President's Extraordinary On-Camera Confrontation
President Donald Trump engaged in a remarkable public confrontation with a veteran journalist during Thursday night's press conference, delivering a deeply personal attack that left viewers stunned. The President directed the words "Are you stupid? Are you a stupid person?" at CBS News chief White House correspondent Nancy Cordes during an exchange about immigration vetting procedures.
The Heated Exchange Over Afghan Suspect
The explosive confrontation unfolded as journalists pressed President Trump about Rahmanullah Lakanwal, the 29-year-old Afghan national accused of shooting two National Guard members in Washington, DC on Wednesday. Reporters questioned whether federal screening failures were to blame rather than broader immigration policy.
Nancy Cordes, 51, calmly noted that federal officials had indicated the suspect "worked very closely with the CIA in Afghanistan for years" and that "he was vetted and the vetting came up clean." The Princeton-educated journalist cited specific findings from the Department of Justice Office of the Inspector General confirming thorough vetting by DHS and FBI of Afghans brought into the United States.
President Trump responded with increasing frustration, insisting that Lakanwal "went cuckoo" and entered the country without proper screening. "They came in unvetted and we have a lot of others in this country and we're going to get them out," the President declared.
Personal Attack and Broader Immigration Critique
When Cordes pushed back, citing official reports contradicting the President's claims about vetting procedures, Trump's response turned sharply personal. "Because they let them in. Are you stupid? Are you a stupid person?" he fired back at the respected correspondent.
The President continued his verbal assault, stating: "Because they came in on a plane along with thousands of other people that shouldn't be here and you're just asking questions because you're a stupid person." He then expanded his criticism to condemn the Afghanistan withdrawal overall and current immigration laws.
Despite the intense personal criticism, Cordes maintained her composure throughout the exchange, occasionally raising an eyebrow but continuing to engage professionally with the President.
Background to the Confrontation
The press conference had begun with solemn announcements about the shooting victims. President Trump confirmed that 20-year-old Sarah Beckstrom had died from her injuries, describing her as an "incredible person" and "outstanding in every way." Her colleague, 24-year-old Andrew Wolfe, remains in critical condition in hospital.
Federal authorities are investigating the attack as an act of terrorism. Officials revealed that Lakanwal drove from his home in Bellingham, Washington, across the country to the nation's capital before opening fire with a .357 revolver.
According to US officials and confirmed by CIA Director John Ratcliffe, Lakanwal worked with the CIA as a member of a partner force in Kandahar during the Afghanistan war. However, humanitarian group #AfghanEvac revealed that Lakanwal's asylum was approved in April under the Trump administration after undergoing extensive screening including fingerprinting, iris scans, background checks, interviews, and formal risk assessments.
This incident marks the second time within two weeks that President Trump has lashed out at a female reporter when faced with challenging questions. Earlier this month, he told another journalist to be "quiet, piggy" when questioned about the Jeffrey Epstein files aboard Air Force One.
