Former President Trump is making it clear he won’t tolerate “fake news” reporters.
The leading 2024 Republican presidential candidate was speaking to the press on his plane after a campaign rally in Waco, Texas when he pushed back against an NBC reporter, according to newly obtained audio.
NBC News’ Vaughn Hillyard suggested Trump was “frustrated” by Manhattan DA Alvin Bragg’s criminal probe just days before he was indicted.
“I’m not frustrated by anything,” Trump said in the clip obtained by the Washington Post. “What am I, frustrated? I just did a speech for two hours. I’m not frustrated by it. It’s a fake investigation. We did nothing wrong. I told you that. … It’s the exact opposite. This is fake news, and NBC is one of the worst at it. Don’t ask me any more questions.”
Trump told Hillyard, “I heard you’re a nice guy from NBC but you’re not.”
When Hillyard tried to ask another question about Bragg’s investigation, Trump responded, “I don’t want to talk to you. You’re not a nice guy.”
When the NBC News reporter kept questioning him, Trump reportedly grabbed the reporter’s two phones and tossed them aside, according to Vanity Fair.
“Get him out of here,” Trump said. “Let’s get him out of here. Out of here. Out of here.”
Trump campaign spokesman Steven Cheung told WaPo “no negative incidents” involving reporters occurred on his plane.