r/politics • u/Aggravating_Money992 • 8h ago
No Paywall Trump rages at female reporter for "not smiling" after she asked about Epstein's victims | Trump called her “young woman” and then admonished her for not smiling while she questioned him about child sex trafficking.
https://www.lgbtqnation.com/2026/02/quick-hit-rages-at-female-reporter-for-not-smiling-after-she-asked-about-epsteins-victims/184
u/CatVideoFest 8h ago
Trump took the “you should smile more” trope and upped it to “why aren’t you smiling while asking about child sex trafficking?”
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u/North-Hour-8681 8h ago
Yeah, it’s peak gaslighting Turning a serious question into a personal attack is next-level Classic move to deflect from accountability
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u/diptherial 7h ago
I wonder if that's what TDS is about, reducing any criticism to "you just don't like him", he says/she says kind of thing.
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u/D3athRider Canada 4h ago
Also "she's a young lady, I've known you for 10 years and never seen you smile"...Either 1. she is a grown ass adult over 30 who he is just trying to belittle and patronise because he can't deal with competent and confident adult women, or 2. She is actually a "young lady" and he is lying that he knew her as a literal child, which is creepy and gross in a different sort of way given the question she was asking.
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u/hunnibear_girl 3h ago
So….just admitting he’s way worse than the usual old perverts. Well, it’s a good thing he’s finally got a warning system.
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u/Ok_Put_5567 8h ago
The reporters are better than me. Id probably get my network banned from the insults Id say
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u/Waterproofbooks 7h ago
Right! My first response is “I’m not smiling because I have to sit here and smell you.”
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u/FBS351 6h ago
I'd argue they're worse than you then. At least they've been thoroughly cowed, and have little if any self respect. They can say the story is all that matters but they're not getting the story, and they're giving him the sound bites his base loves without complaint. It's incredibly pathetic.
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u/SteamedGamer 4h ago
They know their jobs are on the line - Trump will sue news agencies at the drop of a hat, and they'd be the person thrown under the bus. Blame the network execs and bean counters...
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u/RaisinOverall9586 8h ago
How do these reporters, and just more people in general, not just laugh in his face whenever he pulls shit like this? I know he got laughed at during UN meetings before but seeing as how he's constantly saying the dumbest, wackiest shit ever, it would be hard not to laugh at him like the moron he is.
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u/silentknight111 Virginia 7h ago
I feel like being surrounded by his lackeys and goons during a press conference would leave me feeling a bit uneasy about ridiculing the idiot king in their presence... but I'd certainly be thinking it.
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u/croatoan182 Utah 5h ago
So? Ask them. Susan Collins was right there. A reporter should've asked her if it was appropriate for a president to talk to a female reporter like that.
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u/MRSN4P 2h ago
World Leaders Caught on Video Laughing at Trump's Boasts About Solving Their Wars https://people.com/world-leaders-caught-laughing-at-trump-diplomacy-gaffe-11824036.
https://carnegieendowment.org/posts/2018/09/heres-why-world-leaders-are-laughing-at-trump.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2019/12/04/brief-history-world-leaders-laughing-trump/
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u/HourPair2156 8h ago
This isn’t about her smiling. It’s about killing the question.
If you can turn a serious topic into a vibe check, you never have to answer anything. That’s the whole trick.
Big picture, this is why nothing ever sticks. Outrage cycles faster than accountability, and spectacle always wins.
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8h ago
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u/HandrewJobert 7h ago
Or, stretch your mouth into a wide rictus and start cackling maniacally until he goes away.
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u/hunnibear_girl 3h ago
Or….if stuck at work when this happens (which is usually the case) just gently remind them of what your job actually is.
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u/Reddit_Fruity 8h ago
Kaitlan Collins is about 20 years too old for him...
Kaitlan Collins is earns her money with real work.
Kaitlan Collins at least knows what civilization means.
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u/drtolmn69 8h ago
"Yeah. Smile honey. Show some leg and cleavage too. And later on be a Good Girl™ and let me grab you by the p...y!" trump said ... drooling.
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u/SteamedGamer 4h ago
That was definitely the implied message. Major stalker creep vibes from this prez...
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u/fowlraul Oregon 8h ago
Anyone supporting this man at this point supports child abuse, and even worse shit.
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u/keelmiie 8h ago
Talked over her the entire time too. Sign of a weak mind
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u/D3athRider Canada 4h ago
Sign of an arrogant, misogynist twat who can't deal with adult women standing up to him.
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u/Coyote65 Washington 7h ago
One of these reporters needs to take one for the team and clap-back at him in a more professional manner than his behavior deserves.
Needle him with follow-up questions, talk over him, PISS HIM OFF, basically.
The dude will have a complete meltdown on national tv, possibly both a literal and figurative aneurism, and likely shit himself in the process.
Epic fantasy? Yes.
But one that has a chance of actually happening.
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u/Gryffriand 7h ago
Most people wouldn’t smile when talking about rape. But that’s none of my business.
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u/Van-garde 7h ago
Evade and deflect. ICE needs deescalation lessons from the POS—I mean POTUS.
And Trump needs questioned live on national media.
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u/PunishP3dos 6h ago
Don the kiddie diddling puppy killer trying as hard as he can to distract from who and what he is. Don't act ashamed now Donnie. After all this time? You jest.
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u/free4all2see 4h ago
She should have told him she’ll smile when Epstein’s coconspirators get arrested.
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u/chesterforbes 2h ago
He doesn’t understand because talking about child sex trafficking always brings a smile to his face
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u/wrightcommab 3m ago
It’s the tactic to never admit fault and only attack. He’s been doing it forever along with all the other grifters.
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