Trump's press attacks reveal a gender gap
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President Trump and his team frequently tout the president as the most media-accessible in history — but female reporters in his orbit are often disparaged and belittled, an Axios analysis of his remarks shows.
Why it matters: Press freedom advocates say Trump's attacks on female reporters undermine media trust while exposing individual journalists to harassment.
Driving the news: Trump's latest comments were directed to New York Times reporter Maggie Haberman and "Meet the Press" host Kristen Welker.
- Trump called Haberman an "unattractive person both inside and out" and a "SCAMMER" over a recent story about his plans for the 25th anniversary of 9/11. Trump has repeatedly targeted Haberman over her reporting, including her book about his presidency and a recent story about his plans for the 25th anniversary of 9/11.
On Sunday, Trump shared his ire about Welker, saying she will be reported to the FCC for "rebuke or punishment" after she said on "Meet the Press" that his endorsement currently carries less political weight than in years past.
- He additionally called her reporting a "Threat to our Country."
What they're saying: "President Trump has never been concerned with being politically correct, never holds back, and in large part, the American people re-elected him for his transparency," White House spokesperson Olivia Wales told Axios.
- "This has nothing to do with gender – it has everything to do with the fact that the President's and the public's trust in the media is at all-time lows."
By the numbers: Trump has demeaned female reporters at least thirteen times since November 2025, according to Axios' tracking of the comments. At that time, the president set off a firestorm of news coverage for calling Bloomberg's Catherine Lucey "piggy" after she asked a question about convicted sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein.
Yes, but: Trump has attacked male reporters too, but those insults tend to be less personal.
- For example, Trump has attacked former CNN star Don Lemon's intelligence at the 2026 White House Correspondents Dinner and called then-CNN White House correspondent Jim Acosta a "rude, terrible person" in 2018.
The other side: Lauren Harper, the Daniel Ellsberg Chair on Government Secrecy at the Freedom of the Press Foundation, warns that the attacks mark a dangerous escalation in First Amendment rights.
- "This is a continuation in his attacks on the free press and intent to intimidate, punish them for coverage he doesn't like," Harper says. "It's also... a continuation of an attack on women in particular. This has been a recurring theme for him."
Zoom in: Trump has repeatedly commented on female reporters' capability and appearance, from calling ABC News' Rachel Scott "one of the worst reporters" who's a "horror show" to repeatedly telling CNN's Kaitlan Collins to smile.
- He recently called CNN's Kristen Holmes a "loud, boisterous person" and told her, "be quiet" as she tried to ask about Natalie Harp, a White House aide who is frequently at Trump's side.
The president has also repeatedly insulted female reporters of color, calling them "second-rate," questioning their intelligence and calling them "nasty" — prompting the National Association of Black Journalists to repeatedly condemn his behavior.
The bottom line: The White House says trust in the media is at historic lows — and it is. But Trump's repeated attacks on female reporters do little to rebuild it, Harper says.
- "You have to have a willingness to engage with reporters who disagree with you, I would say in particular with outlets that may be skeptical of your policies to build public trust across the board," Harper says.
Go deeper: Trump targets women reporters with disparaging rhetoric
