President Trump and Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt delivered a scathing rebuke of CBS News host Margaret Brennan during an Oval Office exchange, with Trump calling her “stupid” and directing Leavitt to put his comments “on the record.”
Trump Unleashes on CBS Host
President Trump launched a direct assault on CBS News anchor Margaret Brennan during a September 2nd Oval Office event, declaring her incompetent in front of assembled reporters. Trump specifically targeted Brennan’s performance on “Face the Nation,” stating emphatically that “the woman on the ‘Face the Nation’ is so bad” and calling her “stupid.” The President’s remarks came as he addressed various topics including rumors about his health and ongoing political issues.
The confrontation escalated when Trump turned to Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt for confirmation, asking her to validate his criticism publicly. Leavitt readily agreed with the President’s assessment, describing Brennan as “nasty” and endorsing Trump’s characterization. Trump then instructed Leavitt to ensure his comments about Brennan being “stupid” were officially recorded, demonstrating his willingness to make such criticism part of the permanent record.
Administrative Unity Against Media Bias
Leavitt’s participation in the criticism reveals the administration’s coordinated approach to challenging perceived media hostility. The Press Secretary’s willingness to publicly support Trump’s harsh assessment of Brennan signals a unified front against what conservatives view as biased journalism from major networks. This collaborative criticism represents a strategic departure from traditional diplomatic language typically used in official White House communications regarding the press.
The exchange demonstrates Trump’s continued commitment to confronting what he perceives as unfair media coverage directly and publicly. Rather than allowing hostile questioning to go unanswered, the administration is actively pushing back against journalists they believe demonstrate bias or incompetence. This approach resonates with conservative voters who have long complained about mainstream media’s treatment of Republican politicians and policies.
Pattern of Media Accountability
This latest incident continues Trump’s established pattern of holding individual journalists accountable for what he views as poor or biased reporting. The President has previously clashed with CBS News personalities, including his famous walkout during a “60 Minutes” interview with Lesley Stahl in 2020. These confrontations serve to highlight the stark difference between how mainstream media treated the previous administration versus Trump’s presidency.
Trump, Karoline Leavitt bash CBS News’ Margaret Brennan: ‘She’s stupid. You can put that on the record’ https://t.co/eHxO9QvrlI via @@YahooNews
Brennen the face of communism— Tim Wagner (@wagner51971) September 3, 2025
The direct nature of Trump’s criticism reflects his understanding that conservative Americans are frustrated with years of hostile media coverage that often prioritized political attacks over factual reporting. By calling out specific journalists publicly, Trump demonstrates his commitment to challenging the media establishment that many conservatives believe has abandoned objective journalism in favor of partisan advocacy. CBS News has not responded to the administration’s criticism, maintaining their typical pattern of avoiding accountability for their coverage decisions.