Donald Trump berated a Newsmax reporter on Monday for asking about the deployment of ICE agents to US airports, telling the journalist he was not doing a 'good job' and joking that he would not last long at the outlet. The incident occurred in Palm Beach, Florida, as the president prepared to board Air Force One.
The reporter asked a neutral question about Trump's announcement that ICE agents would be deployed to major airports to fill staffing gaps caused by the partial government shutdown. Trump immediately snapped, asking 'who are you with?' and repeatedly saying 'you're not doing a good job'. He then quipped, 'I don't think he's gonna be at Newsmax long,' which was met with silence from the press corps.
Trump later took a question on the same topic from CNN's Kaitlan Collins, remarking, 'I'm taking CNN over Newsmax. Can you believe it?' Collins asked about his decision to have ICE agents at airports unmask, which Trump answered without issue. The president has a history of targeting reporters with personal insults, particularly women, and has previously told Collins to 'smile' more often.
The questions on Monday also covered the ongoing Iran tensions and TSA shortages. More TSA officers have been calling out sick, prompting Trump to order ICE agents to airports. Photos showed ICE agents performing patrol duties rather than supplementing security checkpoints. Democrats have demanded reforms, including unmasking ICE agents, in exchange for funding votes. Trump defended the unmasking order, claiming ICE agents deal with 'murderers', though DHS statistics show most detained immigrants lack violent criminal histories.
