Trump’s Response to September 11 Anniversary Coverage
On Friday, President Donald Trump sharply criticized New York Times reporter Maggie Haberman after the newspaper published a story about where he plans to observe the 25th anniversary of the September 11 attacks. According to the article, Trump intends to attend the commemorative event at the Pentagon, not at Ground Zero in New York City.
Trump denounced Haberman as a “fake reporter,” accusing her of fabricating the story. He also made disparaging remarks about her appearance, labeling her “unattractive” and calling her a “scammer” and “stalker.”
In a rebuttal, Trump described the report as “corrupt news” and refuted the idea that he was avoiding New York due to restrictions preventing him from speaking at the World Trade Center site. He highlighted the ceremony’s solemnity and its focus on honoring the victims and their families.
“I never even thought of what Maggot [sic] made up, and besides, I would love not to speak, because I’m speaking all the time, and this is a day to remember the victims, and their beautiful family members.”
Trump confirmed his plan to attend the Pentagon ceremony and potentially deliver remarks, while Vice President JD Vance is expected in New York. The Times report noted that Trump’s travel schedule, including a trip to Ireland the following day, influenced the decision, as leaving Washington was logistically simpler than departing New York.
Legal Actions and Patterns
Trump threatened legal action against Haberman and the Times, expressing dissatisfaction over her Pulitzer Prize for coverage he dismissed as fraudulent. He has a history of defamation lawsuits against major media outlets, having settled with ABC News and Paramount/CBS in the past.
Trump’s criticism fits a pattern of personal attacks on female journalists. Previously, he has insulted reporters like CNN’s Kaitlan Collins and MSNBC’s Mika Brzezinski based on their appearances when they question him on contentious topics. His comments regarding Haberman are a continuation of these tactics, aiming to divert attention from the report’s content to the journalist herself.
Newsweek has reached out to the White House and the Times for further comments on the matter.