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President Donald Trump faced backlash over his latest attack on a female reporter, whom he called “unattractive,” a “stalker” and derisively nicknamed after insect larvae.
The presidential tirade came after The New York Times reported Thursday that Trump planned to skip the 25th-anniversary commemoration of the September 11, 2001, attacks in New York — in part because he had not been allowed to deliver a speech.
Maggie Haberman, a veteran journalist who has long been a target of the president’s ire, was one of the report’s bylines.
“Maggot Hagerman, the Fake Reporter from The Failing New York Times, an unattractive person both inside and out, and who knows less about me than most reporters on the beat (She’s a SCAMMER!), made up a story that on September 11th,” the 80-year-old president wrote on Truth Social on Friday.
“Maggot Hagerman is a PHONY,” he added. “She’s been falsely writing about me for years — She’s a stalker, and should be forced to turn over any and all money that she’s made through her fake reporting on me.”
President Donald Trump has faced backlash over his latest attack on a female reporter, whom he called ‘unattractive’ and ‘stalker’ (Getty Images)
The president’s remarks quickly drew criticism from across the media industry and beyond.
“I’m not going to repost the filth the president wrote about Maggie Haberman, but suffice it to say she’s a great person, beautiful inside and out, an incredible mom and wife and colleague, and an amazing journalist,” CNN host Jake Tapper wrote one X. “The president’s comments are disgusting and beneath the office.”
Ron Filipkowski, the editor-in-chief of MeidasTouch, a progressive media company, reposted Trump’s message and wrote: “This person is unwell.”
The New York Times also pushed back on the president’s criticism and defended its reporting.
In a statement, a newspaper spokesperson said the report was “based on information from multiple people with knowledge of the discussions and planning around New York’s Sept. 11 ceremony,” adding, “We are confident in the accuracy of our reporting.”
When asked about the president’s post during an interview with MS NOW, Haberman said that she stands by her reporting.
“We were quite transparent with them about what we were reporting, including the part about that part of the reason why he was not going to New York was because he did want to speak, and the White House did not say anything, pushing back on what we were reporting,” she told the outlet. “And then, 24 hours later, the president started attacking the piece. You know, so readers can make their own assessment about a denial that comes a day later.”
Trump has a long history of singling out Haberman, who previously worked for The New York Post and Politico, and has reported on the president throughout both of his terms in office.
Much of the recent criticism has focused on a book Haberman co-authored earlier this year, Regime Change: Inside the Imperial Presidency of Donald Trump, a scoop-heavy account of Trump’s return to power.
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Maggie Haberman (center), a veteran journalist, has long been subject to President Donald Trump’s ire (Getty Images)
The book includes previously unreported details about White House deliberations over the war in Iran and the Epstein files, as well as peculiar anecdotes about some of the people around Trump. Among them is his loyal aide Natalie Harp, who allegedly left him adoring notes. One reportedly stated: “You are all that matters to me.”
“Her book is a joke! 90% of it is Fake News,” Trump wrote on Truth Social in July. “Maggot is a loser! If she ever wrote the true story about me, it would actually be quite boring…”
Trump has also repeatedly attacked female journalists more broadly.
In June, he lashed out at CNN reporter Kaitlan Collins, saying she had “hatred in her eyes” and that “I never see a smile.” Earlier, he called her “stupid and nasty” after she asked questions about the White House ballroom.
While aboard Air Force One in November, Trump told a female Bloomberg journalist “Quiet, piggy,” after she tried to ask a question about Jeffrey Epstein.
Asked about the incident during a press briefing, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said the president “is very frank and honest with everyone…”
“You’ve all seen it yourselves. You’ve all experienced it yourselves,” she added. “And I think it’s one of the many reasons the American people reelected this president, because of his frankness.”