Overview
- The New York Times reported Thursday that Mr. Trump planned to attend a Pentagon ceremony on the 25th anniversary of 9/11 rather than the Ground Zero memorial, noting that the memorial bars speeches and that travel logistics were a factor.
- Hours later on Friday, the president posted a lengthy Truth Social message that attacked reporter Maggie Haberman with crude insults, called her a “stalker” and demanded she surrender money earned from reporting.
- The New York Times and Haberman have defended the story as based on multiple sources and said reporters were transparent with the White House about reporting that Mr. Trump wanted to speak at the memorial.
- The White House offered a different explanation to MS NOW, saying Vice President J.D. Vance would represent the administration in New York and security rules prevent both men appearing together, and Haberman rejected that account on television.
- The episode prompted broad criticism from journalists and commentators and fits a pattern of the president publicly attacking and legally pressing news organizations, a dynamic that could lead to more legal threats and continued strain on press access.