In a fresh outburst that sparked denunciation from the press, President Donald Trump lashed out at a female journalist, targeting her appearance and reputation in blunt, personal language. The target was Katie Rogers, a reporter for The New York Times, who co-wrote a recent analysis suggesting the president has reduced his public appearances and travel compared with his earlier term — a fact some interpreted as signs of aging or declining stamina.
On his social media platform, Trump slammed the newspaper and proceeded to disparage Rogers personally, calling her “a third-rate reporter who is ugly, both inside and out.” He dismissed the coverage as a “hit piece,” framing it as “fake news,” and accused the media of bias.
The reaction from the Times was swift: the publication stood by the accuracy of its reporting and condemned the insults. In a statement, it emphasized that personal attacks and name-calling cannot discredit factual journalism, and affirmed its commitment to independent reporting despite intimidation attempts.
This incident adds to a growing list of instances in recent weeks where Trump has directed derogatory comments toward female reporters. Notably, just days earlier on board Air Force One, he curtly told another journalist, “Quiet — piggy,” after she asked a question about the release of highly scrutinized files related to a criminal case. A White House spokesperson defended the prior remarks, describing them as part of what she called the president’s “frank” style and dismissing accusations that they were gender-targeted.
The repeated pattern of personal jabs aimed at female journalists — especially those covering contentious issues such as political scandals or questions about the president’s health — has drawn complaints from news organizations and press-freedom advocates. Many consider the behavior an attempt to intimidate and silence critical reporting through personal humiliation.
For many observers, the latest incident raises concerns not just about civility, but about the broader tone being set for media-government relations — one where open inquiry and accountability risk being overshadowed by ad hominem attacks.
Summary
President Trump recently called New York Times reporter Katie Rogers “ugly, both inside and out,” in response to her co-authored article about his reduced public schedule and perceived signs of fatigue. The Times defended its reporting as accurate and criticized the attacks as intimidation. The incident continues a trend of Trump using harsh, gender-targeted insults against female journalists, raising alarm among media advocates about press freedom and decorum.