During a high-profile event at the White House on Tuesday, President Donald Trump issued a direct threat to ABC News’s broadcast license. The confrontation began when network reporter Mary Bruce questioned him about his family’s business dealings with Saudi Arabia and the Jeffrey Epstein scandal.
Trump was hosting Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. He is a figure linked by U.S. intelligence to the 2018 murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi. Bruce’s questions challenged both leaders on issues of trust and accountability.
The ABC reporter first asked Trump about allegations of inappropriate deal-making by the Trump Organisation with Saudi partners. Media reports have recently highlighted discussions concerning a luxury resort development in the Maldives.
Bruce then directly addressed Crown Prince Mohammed, stating, “US intelligence concluded that you orchestrated the brutal murder of a journalist. 9/11 families are furious that you’re here in the Oval Office. Why should Americans trust you?”
Trump immediately interjected, labelling the network “ABC fake news. One of the worst in the business.” He asserted that he has “nothing to do with the family business,” which his sons currently manage. He also defended the Crown Prince’s denial of involvement in Khashoggi’s murder. He told Bruce, “You don’t have to embarrass our guest by asking a question like that.”
Read: US House to Vote on Releasing Jeffrey Epstein Files in Defiance of Trump
The exchange intensified when Bruce raised the topic of Jeffrey Epstein, the late financier and convicted sex offender. Trump’s past association with Epstein has been a persistent subject of public scrutiny.
“It’s not the question that I mind. It’s your attitude. I think you are a terrible reporter,” Trump responded. He firmly denied any connection to Epstein, repeating his claim that the scandal is a “hoax.” He blamed ABC for perpetuating it.
His criticism escalated into a formal threat against the network. “I’ll tell you something. I think the license should be taken away from ABC, because your news is so fake and it’s so wrong,” he declared. He concluded the confrontation by pointing at Bruce and stating, “No more questions from you.”
