Andrew Feinberg, the White House correspondent for The Independent, has responded strongly after President Donald Trump called him a “sick person.” The confrontation occurred during a heated exchange in the Oval Office.
Feinberg took to X to reply after Trump singled him out during a press session at the White House on Tuesday. In a tweet directed at JD Vance, Feinberg urged the vice president to tag his account if he intended to insult him, referring to a clip where Trump had chastised the reporter for his behavior.
The incident unfolded as Trump addressed a variety of national and international topics during a press conference. Video footage shows Feinberg was preparing to ask a question regarding the president’s numerous golf courses when Trump interrupted.
“What’s wrong with you? Are you a sick person?” Trump questioned, targeting his remark at Feinberg. He reinforced his comment by stating, “I actually think there’s something wrong with you.”
Further into the exchange, Trump had warned Feinberg, “Hey! I don’t know who the hell you are, but you better be careful.”
In another post on X, Feinberg mentioned that he had identified himself to Trump roughly five minutes before the incident took place. The back-and-forth took place following a White House event that announced a $25 million fraud whistleblower incentive program. The program promises rewards of up to $30,000 for information leading to taxpayer money recovery.
Throughout his presidency, Trump, 80, has frequently found himself in contentious exchanges with journalists, often resorting to personal attacks when questioned about policies or past statements.
Feinberg has been The Independent’s White House correspondent since 2022 and previously worked for Newsweek. He declined further comments when contacted by phone late Tuesday. His LinkedIn profile describes him as a “highly energetic, fearless journalist” with extensive experience in White House and Capitol Hill reporting.
In April, Feinberg reported conducting a short telephone interview with Trump. During the conversation, Trump avoided specifics about a potential U.S. response if Iranian forces captured the Air Force colonel shot down in Iran. U.S. forces later successfully executed a complex rescue mission, retrieving both aviators.
In response to the exchange, White House officials criticized Feinberg for his “disgraceful behavior” in a post on X.