Donald Trump snaps at another female reporter

"Not you. Not you. You're the worst," President Donald Trump snapped at ABC’s Rachel Scott on Thursday as she attempted to ask questions about his proposed stimulus payments and tariff refund checks.

Video of the exchange, filmed on the tarmac before Trump's departure from Dallas, quickly spread across social media, putting a spotlight once again on Trump’s often-combative relationship with female members of the press.

While the president has a long history of clashing with journalists of all backgrounds, several of his most high-profile confrontations during his second term have involved female reporters.

The latest exchange with Scott comes after CNN correspondent Kristen Holmes was targeted by the White House's Rapid Response 47 account in August following a question about Trump aide Natalie Harp.

"This is not the first time that Trump has spoken in an aggressive way to a woman in her role as a journalist, and it is certainly not the first time we have seen him dismiss women," Amy Tatum, a lecturer in communications and media at Bournemouth Media School, told Newsweek.

Tatum said Thursday's exchange appeared to mark "an escalation" because Trump not only verbally dismissed Scott but also moved toward her as she continued asking questions.

"He physically dismisses her with his hand gestures but then proceeds to take a step towards her and leans closer in order to get her to stop talking," she said. "This fits the pattern of his behavior, but it also represents a new, even more aggressive level of behavior."

Newsweek reached out to ABC and the White House via email for comment.

Rachel Scott is a senior political correspondent for ABC News who covers the White House, Congress and national politics. She has reported extensively on presidential campaigns, elections and major developments in Washington, frequently questioning top administration officials and lawmakers on policy and political issues.

She has been one of ABC's most visible reporters covering Trump's second term and has participated in numerous White House press events, campaign appearances and media briefings. Her reporting has often focused on issues including the economy, foreign policy, government spending and political accountability.

The exchange occurred as Trump spoke with reporters before departing Dallas on Thursday. Scott asked: “On the checks, we have $40 trillion in debt. If your economic policies are working, why do you need an incentive for people to turn out to vote?”

“I'm doing it as a reward for people having to put up for five years and four years of a horrible situation caused by Biden,” Trump replied.

As Scott continued: “You also offered tariff refund checks—,” she was cut off by the president who said: “Not you. Not you. Not you. You’re the worst.”

Footage of the interaction quickly spread across social media, with clips generating hundreds of thousands of views within hours and drawing fresh attention to Trump's contentious relationship with journalists.

This is not the first clash between the two. In May this year, Trump called Scott’s question “stupid,” labeled her a “horror show,” and “one of the worst reporters” after she asked about priorities during war and rising gas prices.

Tatum argued the exchange went beyond criticism of a reporter's work.

"After his aggressive behavior towards Scott, Trump dismisses her again with the words 'your network and you, you're the worst,'" she said. "The use of 'you' demonstrates this is a personal attack."

Tatum said Trump has often focused criticism of female reporters on how they behave rather than the substance of their questions.

"He does not criticize them for their questions but more for the way in which they look or act, that they have stepped outside of what he feels is acceptable behavior for women," she said.

Thursday's exchange with Scott is the latest in a series of high-profile confrontations between Trump and female journalists during his second term.

Trump has repeatedly publicly clashed with at least 10 female journalists, including CNN's Kristen Holmes and Kaitlan Collins, ABC News correspondents Rachel Scott and Mary Bruce, Bloomberg's Catherine Lucey, CBS News' Nancy Cordes and New York Times reporter Katie Rogers.

The confrontations have varied in subject matter but often followed a similar pattern—with Trump responding to difficult questions by turning his criticism toward the reporter. In some cases, he has called journalists "the worst" or "terrible"; in others he has mocked their intelligence, appearance, personality or demeanor.

The incidents have played out at White House press events, aboard Air Force One, on social media and through official administration communications channels.

Tatum said it was significant that some of Trump's criticism of female reporters has focused on their intelligence, appearance or demeanor.

Referring to Trump's recent description of CNN's Collins as "very dumb and unhappy," Tatum said such remarks reflected broader attitudes toward women who challenge authority.

"Trump does not respond well to women challenging him and when they do, he attacks them in ways he feels will undermine and humiliate them," she said.

Tatum said the reaction of those present during Thursday's exchange was also notable.

"What is significant in this interaction is that it does not appear shocking to those involved," she said, noting that Trump continued speaking and other reporters quickly moved on.

She argued that such incidents can normalize hostility toward women in public-facing roles. "This normalizes such aggressive behavior towards women and also sends a message to people watching that such behavior is acceptable," Tatum said. "This is a dangerous message and, as we have seen with previous incidents, allows and encourages escalation of aggression towards women."

Concerns about harassment of female journalists come amid research showing women in the profession face disproportionate levels of abuse online and offline.

A 2020 UNESCO/International Center for Journalists survey found that 73 percent of female journalists experienced online violence in the course of their work. The study also found that 25 percent received threats of physical violence, 18 percent received threats of sexual violence, and 20 percent reported being attacked offline in connection with online abuse.

Meanwhile, a more recent 2026 UN Women/UNESCO report found that female journalists alter their behavior for fear of violence or harassment from the public. Forty-five percent of female journalists said they self-censor on social media because of online violence, while nearly 22 percent said they self-censor in their professional work.

The same report found roughly one in four female journalists reported anxiety or depression linked to online violence, and almost 13 percent reported PTSD.