During a press briefing on his midterm campaign travel, U.S. Donald Trump clashed with Reuters reporter Jeff Bogage, calling him “sick” and “disgusting” after the journalist asked about his decision to skip a campaign stop in Kansas. The exchange unfolded as Trump defended his travel schedule ahead of congressional elections, pointing to the strong campaign performance of Republican candidate Roger Marshall as the reason he would bypass the state.
Clashing Over Campaign Travel and Health
The confrontation began when Bogage questioned the president’s itinerary. “To, že nejedete do Kansasu, nemá nic společného s tím, že vás již unavuje cestování?” asked Bogage, according to the transcript provided in the sources (“The fact that you are not going to Kansas has nothing to do with the fact that you are already tired of traveling?”).
Trump immediately rejected the premise and turned his focus onto the reporter. “Ach, vy jste nemocný, už jen proto, že se na to ptáte. Jste nemocný. Pro koho pracujete?” Trump asked (“Oh, you’re sick, just for asking that. You’re sick. Who do you work for?”).
This is the Reuters journalist whom Trump called “disgusting” and told to “put yourself in shape” https://t.co/2xoaL7TRYF pic.twitter.com/1TURsh4vIP
When Bogage identified himself as a Reuters journalist, Trump escalated his criticism of both the reporter and the news organization. “Jste nemocný. Reuters je hrozná agentura. Podívejte se na toho chlapa, je úplně z formy,” Trump said, attacking the reporter’s physical appearance (“You’re sick. Reuters is a terrible agency. Look at that guy, he’s totally out of shape”).
Explaining the Kansas Decision
Addressing the substance of the question, Trump stated that his absence from Kansas stemmed from the favorable position of Republican candidate Roger Marshall in the local race. “Nemám pocit, že bych do Kansasu musel jezdit,” Trump said (“I don’t feel like I have to go to Kansas”).
According to descriptions from the HuffPost cited in the source material, the president was “strongly sweating” as he continued the verbal attack. “Sledujete mě už dva týdny. Cítím se skvěle. Jste nechutný. Dejte se do formy. Vypadáte příšerě,” Trump told the reporter (“You’ve been following me for two weeks. I feel great. You’re disgusting. Get in shape. You look terrible”).
Trump has spent recent weeks traveling across various U.S. states to rally support for Republican candidates ahead of the congressional elections, scheduled for Tuesday, with results expected overnight into Wednesday Central European Time.
Recent Confrontations with White House Press Corps
The clash with Reuters follows a similar hostile exchange between the U.S. president and the press corps the previous Tuesday. In that instance, Trump lashed out three times at Andrew Feinberg, a reporter for The Independent, calling him sick and warning him to be careful.
Frequently Asked Questions About the White House Briefing
Which news agency did reporter Jeff Bogage represent during the briefing?
Jeff Bogage reported for Reuters during the exchange with the U.S. president regarding midterm campaign travel.
Why did the U.S. president state he decided to skip visiting Kansas?
Trump stated he would not visit Kansas because Republican candidate Roger Marshall was performing well in his local campaign, eliminating the need for a presidential visit.
When are the congressional midterm elections scheduled to take place?
The congressional elections take place on Tuesday, with results slated to become known overnight into Wednesday Central European Time.
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