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Recent attention has been drawn to a clip of CNN reporter, Kaitlan Collins, with
President Trump. Footage from the Oval Office shows Trump instructing her to
‘smile’ and then proceeding to call her the ‘worst reporter’.This hostile moment
was not isolated and reflects a pattern of Trump clashing with the media. Yet it
is arguable that recently there has been a stark increase in personal attacks
Trump has directed at female reporters, which have moved beyond the scope of
professional criticism, rather serving to delegitimise the press, intimidate female
journalists and normalise misogynistic discourse.
Many have noted that Trump uses insults to attack women’s appearance. An incident that received vast attention was the ‘Quiet, piggy’ remark Trump directed at Bloomberg’s Catherine Lucey while she questioned him about the Epstein files. Many noticed the lack of support from other journalists after this
incident. The lack of intervention may suggest other journalists feared also being targeted, underscoring how the President is perceived to be creating a climate of fear during his press briefings; a worrying prospect for objective journalism.
Another moment when Trump attacked a female journalist’s appearance was when he called New York Times’ Katie Rogers ‘ugly, both inside and out.’ Trump not only uses insults attacking female reporters’
appearance, but he also utilises harsh remarks attempting to undermine their intelligence. Trump behaved badly in a pattern of attacks on female journalists’ intelligence, using the word ‘stupid’ in his heated exchanges. He asked Nancy Cordes from CBS, ‘Are you a stupid person’, while similarly telling CNN reporter Abby Phillip she had asked a ‘stupid question’.
These attacks on female journalists arguably represent the President’s misogynistic outlook towards
female journalists. Other high-profile moments in which Trump has been considered to attack female journalists include when he dismissed ABC reporters Karen Travers and Mary Bruce. He labelled Karen Travers ‘very loud’ and referred to Mary Bruce as ‘terrible’ and ‘insubordinate’. Viewing these
comments directed towards female reporters as a collective, clearly, there is a systematic pattern in Trump’s attitude towards female reporters.
In addition, recognise that female journalists of colour tend to face intensified attacks from the President during their reporting. During the pandemic, Trump gained attention for telling a female Asian American Journalist Weijia Jiang, to ‘ask China’ about COVID-19. Trump proceeded to call her ‘nasty’ and
instructed her to be quiet. To many, these remarks are frequently cited as examples of Trump’s aggressive attitude toward female journalists of ethnic-minorities. Black women reporters also have encountered hostile exchanges during press briefings. Notably, Yamiche Alcindor was accused of asking a ‘racist question’ and was labelled as ‘threatening’ while April Ryan was termed a ‘loser’ who ‘doesn’t know what the hell she’s doing’.
Interestingly, Professor Ava Thompson Greenwell believes the interactions between Trump and black female reporters stand out immensely since historically, reporters covering the White House were white males. Thompson Greenwell similarly alludes to black female reporters acting as unique targets
for Trump’s ‘tongue lashings’. Following this, CNN’s Abby Phillip remarked on Trump’s intolerance towards reporters of colour suggesting him ‘making assumptions about reporters based on their ethnicity is a pattern here’. Clearly, Trump’s attitude towards female reporters is his deliberate attempt to humiliate them.
The White House Press Secretary, Karoline Leavitt, and spokeswoman Abigail Jackson, argue that the attacks the President makes towards reporters have ‘nothing to do with gender’ in an attempt to undermine the allegations of the President’s misogynistic approach towards female reporters. Karoline Leavitt especially argues that the Trump administration is transparent and suggests the insults used by Trump are an act of ‘transparency’ and the President being ‘frank and honest’ regarding ‘fake news’. The administration often argues the reporters are the ones who behave badly, thus reversing accountability and presenting Trump as a victim of ‘fake news’. In addition, the White House
website also has a feature showcasing ‘Media Offenders’. This feature of the website effectively shames reporters whom the Trump administration perceives as biased. Women are commonly placed as the ‘Media Offender of the Week’. As a consequence of Trump’s abuse, female reporters who have been insulted by him are more vulnerable to harassment from his followers.
This has a chilling effect on journalism since it discourages female journalists from being
assertive within their roles. Indeed, this behaviour is likely to affect female students who may be considering a career in journalism, specifically those who are interested in covering the White House. Moreover, the President’s language directed towards female journalists is bound to have a societal impact through normalising misogynistic language towards women and reinforcing a culture in
America and the wider world where women feel as if they are less valued in professional spaces. Ultimately, President Trump’s approach to dealing with questions from female journalists is commonly regarded as lacking basic professional respect.
Image – (Jabin Botsford/The Washington Post)
Edited by Freya Holland
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