President Donald Trump criticized a Wall Street Journal reporter aboard Air Force One on Sunday, May 4, after being questioned about his discussions with Russian President Vladimir Putin regarding the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine.
The exchange took place as Trump traveled from West Palm Beach, Florida, to Joint Base Andrews in Maryland. It began when Trump inquired about the journalist’s media affiliation, a strategy he often uses during his second tenure in office.
Upon discovering the reporter was from The Wall Street Journal, Trump expressed dissatisfaction with the newspaper. His frustration seemed to arise from what he perceives as biased reporting by the conservative-leaning outlet.
“That’s what I thought. Boy, you people treat us so badly. Wall Street Journal has truly gone to hell. Go ahead, yeah. Rotten newspaper. You hear me? What I said? It’s a rotten newspaper,” Trump remarked to the journalist, a moment captured on video.
Initially allowing the reporter to ask, Trump later declined to answer the question about his talks with Putin on peace negotiations between Russia and Ukraine.
He stated he would not waste time speaking with The Wall Street Journal, labeling the publication as “China-oriented” and harmful to U.S. interests.
This interaction is part of the ongoing tension between Trump and the Rupert Murdoch-owned newspaper. Despite its conservative stance, The Wall Street Journal has critiqued several of Trump’s policies since he resumed office.
The newspaper’s editorial board has been especially critical of Trump’s trade policies and tariffs, which it described as the “Dumbest Trade War in History” and cautioned could “sink his Presidency.”
In response, Trump has said he doesn’t “understand” the editorial board’s perspective, characterizing their views as “antiquated and weak.”
The Wall Street Journal has maintained its criticism, continuing to call his tariffs “the biggest economic policy mistake in decades” and urging Trump to swiftly conclude what they term his “tariff barrage.”
Trump’s encounter with the reporter is part of a pattern of tense interactions with the press during his second term. Recently, he had a similar exchange with Michael Birnbaum of The Washington Post, who questioned whether Putin was disrespecting Trump by continuing to attack Ukraine amid peace talks.
During that incident, Trump told Birnbaum that The Washington Post had “lost a lot of credibility” before eventually addressing one of his questions.
This latest incident occurs amid Trump’s ongoing efforts to broker peace between Russia and Ukraine. Discussions have centered around competing peace proposals, with one version supported by Ukraine and European allies and another by the Trump administration.
Diplomatic sources indicate Trump’s proposal includes recognizing Russian control of Crimea, offering “robust security guarantees” for Ukraine, preventing Kyiv from joining NATO, and lifting sanctions on Russia.
Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and European leaders advocate for a plan starting with a ceasefire followed by territorial discussions, with Kyiv receiving defense guarantees similar to NATO’s Article 5.
Tensions between Trump and Zelensky rose in February during a heated meeting at the White House, which ended with Zelensky being ejected from the premises.
Trump remains confident his relationship with Putin will help resolve the conflict, despite ongoing Russian military actions in Ukraine. Last month, he claimed on social media that Russia and Ukraine were “very close to a deal” and urged high-level meetings to finalize an agreement.
The administration’s approach to the Russia-Ukraine war has faced criticism from domestic opponents and international allies, who worry Trump’s peace terms may overly favor Moscow.
Trump’s confrontational stance with mainstream media, including outlets with conservative ties like The Wall Street Journal, continues to characterize his presidential communication style as he navigates complex international and domestic challenges.
