Donald Trump insulted NBC’s Peter Alexander during an Oval Office meeting after being questioned about a controversial jet deal with Qatar.
President Donald Trump once again fohimself at the center of controversy during a tense exchange in the Oval Office.
During a Wednesday meeting with South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, Trump clashed with NBC News correspondent Peter Alexander.
The confrontation erupted after Alexander asked about Qatar’s donation of a luxury aircraft to the U.S. Air Force.
Trump blasts NBC reporter after he asked about Qatar Jet during Oval Office meeting
The confrontation began after Alexander asked about the reported $400 million Qatari luxury jet being provided to the Pentagon.
Rather than addressing the question, Trump responded with clear frustration.
He called the inquiry irrelevant and labeled the journalist a “jerk” and an “idiot.”
“Why are you talking about that? What are you asking that for? You know, you oughta get out of here.”
“What does this have to do with the Qatar jet?” Trump continued. “They’re giving the United States Air Force a jet. Okay? And it’s a great thing.”
The jet question followed the screening of a controversial video
Moments before the outburst, Trump had shown Ramaphosa a controversial video allegedly depicting violence against white South African farmers.
The president seemed irritated by the shift in topic from the video to the military jet.
He viewed it as a media tactic to divert attention from what he believed was the more serious issue.
“We’re talking about a lot of other things. Is NBC trying to get off the subject of what you just saw?” Trump asked rhetorically.
“You are a real – you know, you’re a terrible person,” the president raged, before questioning Alexander’s intelligence.
“Number one, you don’t have what it takes to be a reporter. You’re not smart enough,” Trump charged.
President launches broadside against NBC and its executives
The clash escalated as Trump shifted his criticism to NBC and its parent company.
Trump accused Comcast’s leadership, including Chairman Brian Roberts, of mismanagement and suggested they should be investigated for their journalism.
“You ought to go back to your studio at NBC,” the president suggested, “because, [Comcast Chairman] Brian Roberts and the people that run that place, they ought to be investigated. They are so terrible the way they run that network.”
Trump refuses to tolerate follow-up questions
When Alexander shifted to ask about Trump’s “white genocide” claim in South Africa, the former president quickly cut him off.
“Quiet. Quiet,” Trump said, refusing to engage further and redirecting the conversation to other members of the press.
Alexander stayed persistent despite Trump’s efforts to stop him.
He asked, “If they’re committing genocide, why invite Ramaphosa to the White House?” but received no answer.
Even after moving on, Trump remained visibly agitated by the earlier question about the Qatar jet.
He returned to the topic multiple times, condemning NBC and mocking Alexander’s line of inquiry.
“If the news wasn’t fake, like NBC, which is fake news … if they weren’t fake news like this jerk that we have here,” the president said, pointing to Alexander, “If we had real reporters, they’d be covering it.”
“There are all white farmers being buried and he asks about a jet that was given. You oughtta be ashamed of yourself. You are so bad, you’re such a bad reporter,” Trump complained.
“‘So why did they give us a plane to the United States Air Force?’” he continued, mocking Alexander once again.
“That’s what that idiot talks about after viewing a thing where thousands of people are dead.”
Ramaphosa Responds with Humor to Calm Tension
Trying to ease the awkward tension in the room, President Ramaphosa attempted a light-hearted approach.
“I’m sorry I didn’t bring a plane with me,” he joked, prompting a rare laugh from Trump.
“I wish you had,” Trump responded, appearing momentarily amused.
“If your country offered the United States Air Force a plane, I’d take it in a second.”