President Donald Trump fired off insults at a reporter on Monday during a roundtable discussion about a farm aid package.
The president labeled ABC News journalist Rachel Scott as "the most obnoxious" and "a terrible" reporter after she highlighted a contradiction in his statements, reports The Independent.
When fielding questions from the press, Scott asked Trump about releasing video from a recent boat strike incident. Just last week, the president had claimed he would have "no problem" making the footage public.
However, on Monday, Trump made a U-turn, denying he had ever said such a thing and hurling personal attacks at Scott.
"Let me just tell you, you are an obnoxious – actually a terrible reporter," Trump retorted when Scott repeated her question a second time.
Trump fumes over Democrat obstruction of U.S. Attorney appointments
Mere moments after the heated exchange, the president launched into a tirade against Democrats, accusing them of obstructing the appointment of U.S. Attorneys. His ire was particularly directed at the situation surrounding his pick for New Jersey, Alina Habba, who recently stepped down from the role.
Alina Habba, previously a personal attorney for the president, announced her resignation on Monday from the position of leading the District of New Jersey. Her decision comes after months of legal challenges asserting that she was unlawfully serving in the role.
In an X post, Habba declared her intention to "step down," despite never having legally held the office, citing a desire to "protect the stability and integrity" of the U.S. Attorney's office.
Legal wrangling over Habba's appointment
Trump had selected Habba to serve as the interim U.S. Attorney in New Jersey back in March.
However, following the conclusion of her 120-day term, federal judges in the state sought to replace her with their own candidate. The president and Attorney General Pam Bondi intervened, extending Habba's acting role for an additional 210 days.
In the end, a federal appeals court determined that Habba's position was not lawful, prompting her resignation.
