President Trump had a heated exchange with ABC News senior political correspondent Rachel Scott after she pressed him on his proposed $5,000 "dividend" payment to Americans, as he left Dallas following the Republican midterm convention on 10 September.
What was asked
Scott questioned the reasoning behind the pledge, asking: "Mr. President, on the checks: The U.S. is still $40 trillion in debt. If your economic policies are working, why do you need an incentive for people to turn out to vote?" Trump responded by framing the payment as compensation for what he described as years of hardship under the previous administration, saying: "I didn't do it for turning out the vote, I did it as a reward for people having to put up with five years and four years of a horrible situation caused by Biden."
What happened next
When Scott attempted a follow-up question, referencing a previous tariff rebate promise that never materialised, Trump cut her off, pointing at her and repeating: "Not you. Not you!" He stepped toward her as he said it, according to footage of the exchange, and was also reported to have told her she was "the worst."
ABC's response
An ABC News spokesperson defended Scott and the network's Washington team, saying: "We wholeheartedly support Rachel Scott and our entire Washington team who do an exceptional job delivering trusted and straightforward reporting to the public every single day." Scott shared footage of the exchange on X, captioned: "My question to Trump tonight."
A pattern of past clashes
This is not the first tense exchange between Trump and Scott. In May 2026, he described her as "stupid" and "a horror show" after she questioned his focus on domestic projects amid the war in Iran and rising fuel prices. In December 2025, during a White House Cabinet meeting, he called her "the most obnoxious reporter in the whole place" after she asked whether he'd release full footage of a US strike on boats off Venezuela. Their history extends back to a 2024 appearance at the National Association of Black Journalists convention, where Trump called a question from Scott "disgraceful" and went on to question whether then-Vice President Kamala Harris was "really Black."
Trump has also directed similarly personal remarks at other female journalists, including calling New York Times reporter Katie Rogers "ugly, both inside and out" in November 2025, and telling Bloomberg's Catherine Lucey to be "Quiet, Piggy" after she asked about Jeffrey Epstein. Former White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt defended the president's comments at the time, describing them as frankness that reporters should appreciate.
