President Donald Trump on Sunday insulted a female reporter aboard Air Force One after she pressed him for details about a recent MRI scan.
When the unnamed reporter asked which part of his body had been examined, Trump replied, “I have no idea. It was just an MRI.”
He then added: “It wasn’t the brain because I took a cognitive test and I aced it. I got a perfect mark, which you would be incapable of doing,” directing the remark at the reporter.
In an emailed statement to Newsweek, a White House spokeswoman said: “President Trump has never been politically correct, never holds back, and in large part, the American people re-elected him for his transparency. This has nothing to do with gender – it has everything to do with the fact that the President’s and the public’s trust in the media is at all time lows.”
Why It Matters
In recent weeks, Trump has drawn renewed attention for his pointed remarks toward female journalists — calling one “quiet, piggy” and asking another, “are you a stupid person?”
His treatment of the press, and women in particular, has long been under scrutiny. The growing number and tone of his recent comments have intensified concerns about how his rhetoric may influence public attitudes toward journalists and the media more broadly.
What To Know
The latest exchange occurred during a press gaggle on Air Force One, where Trump faced continued questions from reporters about an MRI he underwent in October.
Just before he mocked the cognitive abilities of one reporter, Trump clashed with NewsNation’s Libby Dean, who had also asked about the MRI.
“Do you want to have it released, NewsNation? Failing, failing NewsNation. NewsNation is doing lousy by the way,” he said.
The White House has so far declined to specify why Trump had the MRI or which part of his body was scanned. Press secretary Karoline Leavitt has described it only as part of his “routine physical examination.”
Democratic leaders have continued to urge the president to release the results. Minnesota Governor Tim Walz on Sunday suggested Trump was “fading physically.”
“Has anyone in the history of the world ever had an MRI assigned to them and have no idea what it was for?” Walz asked during an appearance on NBC’s Meet the Press.
Responding to a question about Walz’s criticism while on Air Force One, Trump called the governor “incompetent” and insisted he had no issue with making the results public. “If they want to release it, it’s OK with me to release it. It’s perfect,” he said.
What Happens Next
Trump is expected to continue facing questions about his health, age and the MRI as Democrats press for more transparency.
Although he told reporters that he has no objection to releasing the MRI results, it is still uncertain whether the White House will ultimately make those records public.
