President Donald Trump launched a personal attack on New York Times reporter Maggie Haberman on Friday after the newspaper reported that he plans to mark the 25th anniversary of the September 11 attacks at the Pentagon rather than Ground Zero in New York City. Trump called Haberman a “fake reporter” and accused her of making up the story, while also taking aim at her appearance, describing her as “unattractive” and attacking her as a “scammer” and a "stalker." Trump said the report was “corrupt news” and pushed back on the suggestion that he was avoiding New York because officials would not allow him to deliver a speech at the World Trade Center site. He said it is a “solemn ceremony” focused on remembering the victims and their families.
Haberman and three other journalists' report, published by the Times on Thursday, said Trump is expected to attend the ceremony at the Pentagon, where he could speak. The president has previously participated in September 11 commemorations in New York, including events at Ground Zero. Newsweek reached out to the White House and the Times via email on Friday for comment.
Trump is expected to mark the 25th anniversary of the September 11 terrorist attacks at the Pentagon rather than at Ground Zero in New York City, according to the Times report. Trump had initially planned to attend the annual ceremony at the National September 11 Memorial & Museum in Lower Manhattan but changed course, as politicians have been barred from making speeches since 2012, the report says. In his post to Truth Social, the president said, in part, "I never even thought of what Maggot [sic] made up, and besides, I would love not to speak, because I’m speaking all the time, and this is a day to remember the victims, and their beautiful family members." Trump is instead expected to participate in the Pentagon's commemoration, where he could speak, the Times reports.
Vice President JD Vance is expected to be in New York. The Times also says that Trump's upcoming travel plans—including a trip to Ireland set for the following day—played a role in the decision, with departing from the Washington area being logistically easier than leaving New York. Former Presidents Bill Clinton, George W.
Bush and Barack Obama are expected to be in attendance in New York, as is former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and former first lady Laura Bush, the outlet says. Trump also threatened a new lawsuit in his latest attack on Haberman, adding in part, "Maggot [sic] Hagerman is a PHONY, and The New York Times knows it! It will all be revealed in the lawsuit against them, and another lawsuit against the organization which gives out the now discredited Pulitzer Prize, because Maggie got one for her 'reporting' on THE RUSSIA, RUSSIA, RUSSIA HOAX, which turned out to be a total CON JOB!" Trump has had notable legal battles with the media, filing a string of defamation lawsuits against major outlets including the Times, The Wall Street Journal and the BBC, while previously reaching multimillion-dollar settlements with ABC News and Paramount/CBS.
Trump’s attack on Haberman also fits into his long-running pattern of targeting female journalists with comments about their appearance or demeanor when they ask questions he dislikes. In February, Trump criticized CNN’s Kaitlan Collins while she questioned him about the Epstein files, calling her “the worst reporter” and telling her he did not think he had “ever seen [her] smile.” Months later, at the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner, Trump again focused on Collins’ appearance, calling her a “young, attractive woman” before repeatedly telling her to smile. The pattern stretches back to Trump’s first term.
Extract — continue reading at the source.
