President Donald Trump has made it clear since retaking office that he doesn’t like female reporters. He especially despises them when they ask tough questions.
Since he returned to the White House almost two years ago, Trump has repeatedly lashed out at female journalists, yelling, calling them names, and critiquing their appearances.
That’s what happened on Monday. CNN reporter Kristen Holmes tried to ask the unpopular president about his dismal poll numbers, especially among Latino voters, enraging Trump.
“Your approval rating with Latino voters has dropped down to 27 percent…” Holmes began before the president quickly interrupted her.
“No, no,” an angry Trump said, shaking his head, before lashing out at her. “You’re fake news. You’re CNN. You’re fake news.”
Then he nonsensically insisted, “My poll numbers are great and all you have to do is look at the crowds we’re drawing. Every time I leave, that candidate will be losing, and by the time I leave, they’re winning.”
But he wasn’t done ranting at Holmes
“No. CNN’s poll numbers are fake, your whole outfit is fake and so are you,” a furious Trump declared.
Even though an outfit commonly refers to a set of clothes worn together, it is also an informal word for a group or organization.
Social media erupted in solidarity with Holmes, calling Trump demented and childish.
“He is officially detached from reality and unable to hear anything that doesn’t fit his narrative. This is a marked sign of dementia and cognitive decline,” an X user pointed out.
“Sounds like something a child would say,” another observed.
This commenter shut Trump down with two words: “He’s despicable.”
Another poster stated Trump has no business in office. “Dude can NOT handle negative comments. Snowflake shouldn’t be in politics.”
The incidents between Trump and female journalists date back to his first run for office in 2015. He calls them names, dodges questions, gaslights them, yells, and basically throws tantrums when they press him on his statements and policy decisions.
Trump has exploded on Holmes before.
In mid-August, she questioned his decision to scale back joint military exercises with South Korea following his praise of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. Trump told Holmes to be quiet and called her a “fake reporter.” The White House later targeted Holmes in a social media post that invoked her children. It said her conduct would eventually sicken and embarrass them when they grew up.
Trump’s attack on Holmes comes amid a legal battle his administration is fighting against CNN and two other news organizations over their access to the White House.
CNN, MS NOW, and Politico sued after Trump barred them from the People’s House, while other television networks declined to replace CNN in the rotating White House press pool.
A federal judge ruled Oct. 1 that the ban was likely unconstitutional, meaning that the administration had to let them operate, at least for now. Meanwhile, the Trump administration has continued restricting CNN’s participation in the press pool, including barring the network from traveling with Trump on Saturday.
In terms of Holmes’ question about Trump’s waning support among Latinos, the latest poll shows exactly that.
And that’s what Holmes was asking about. A new NBC News/Telemundo poll shows just 27 percent of 800 Hispanic voters surveyed said they approve of Trump. Sixty-nine percent said they disapprove of him.
Latinos helped Trump recapture the White House in 2024. Now they may help Democrats retake control of Congress.
In the latest poll, two-thirds believe his immigration policies and crackdowns have gone too far, NBC reported. Seventy-five percent disapprove of how he’s handled the economy and the growing affordability crisis.
