Trump Criticizes NY Times Reporter Haberman Over 9/11 Ceremony Reporting

President Donald Trump launched a strong verbal attack on New York Times reporter Maggie Haberman on Friday. He accused her of fabricating a story about his plans to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the September 11 attacks at the Pentagon instead of Ground Zero in New York City. Trump labeled Haberman as a “fake reporter” and commented on her appearance, describing her as “unattractive,” and calling her a “scammer” and a “stalker.”

According to Haberman and three other journalists’ report, Trump is expected to attend the ceremony at the Pentagon, during which he might speak. This report suggested Trump was avoiding New York due to restrictions on political speeches at the World Trade Center site, a claim Trump denied. Trump referred to the event as a “solemn ceremony” intended to honor the victims and their families.

Newsweek reached out to both the White House and the Times for comments following the incident. The Times’ article mentioned Trump’s change in plans from the National September 11 Memorial & Museum in New York to the Pentagon’s commemoration. Since 2012, politicians have been barred from making speeches at the New York location. Trump also mentioned his upcoming trip to Ireland, stating that departing from Washington would be logistically easier.

Former Presidents Bill Clinton, George W. Bush, and Barack Obama, along with former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and former First Lady Laura Bush, are expected to attend the New York ceremony.

Continuing his attack, Trump threatened new legal action against Haberman and the New York Times. He criticized her for receiving a Pulitzer Prize for her Russia investigation reporting, which he called a “total CON JOB.” Trump has previously filed defamation lawsuits against several media outlets, achieving settlements with some.

Trump’s Pattern of Attacking Female Reporters

Trump’s comments on Haberman align with a broader pattern of targeting female journalists based on their appearance or demeanor. This is not the first time Trump has directed such criticisms at women reporters. In February, he insulted CNN’s Kaitlan Collins, and in previous instances, he targeted MSNBC’s Mika Brzezinski, Fox News’ Megyn Kelly, Bloomberg’s Catherine Lucey, and ABC News’ Mary Bruce.

With each encounter, Trump has shifted the focus from the questions posed to the reporters’ characteristics. This behavior has drawn widespread attention and criticism, raising concerns about the treatment of female journalists.

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