Did he say b***h? Trump's hot-mic moment as journalist asks 'stupid question'

US President Donald Trump sparked fresh controversy after launching a derogatory rant against a woman reporter during a press appearance that unexpectedly changed course from Iran and soaring gas prices to dirt and garbage trucks in Washington D.C. and the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool.

The heated exchange unfolded on Thursday when Trump made a surprise visit to the Mall, where restoration work is underway at the Reflecting Pool ahead of the country's 250th anniversary celebrations.

While praising the construction crew working on the site, Trump was questioned by senior ABC News reporter Rachel Scott about why the administration was focusing on beautification projects while tensions with Iran remained high and fuel prices continued to rise.

“Mr President, you are here against the backdrop of the war in Iran. Why focus on all these projects right now? We’re still seeing gas prices soaring?” Scott asked.

Trump immediately interrupted the question.

“You know why? Because I want to keep our country beautiful and safe. Beautiful also,” he replied.

Veering completely off what the reporter asked him, Trump spoke at length about “filth” and “dirt” in Washington D.C.

Looking visibly irritated, he went on to say, “That’s such a stupid question that you asked... You can understand dirt better than I can, baby, but I don’t allow it.”

Trump then turned toward workers at the site and continued attacking the journalist.

“She’s with ABC fake news, and she’s a horror show,” he said. “A question like that is a disgrace to our country.”

Minutes later, as Trump walked back toward his presidential limousine, cameras caught him gesturing in Scott’s direction before appearing to use a derogatory word, with social media users speculating he was saying "b***h."

There was no audio, but the footage went viral.

Just hours earlier, Trump told Scott over the phone that the latest escalation in the Strait of Hormuz between the US and Iran was just a love tap."

In the sharpest confrontation since the fragile US-Iran ceasefire came into effect on April 7, the two sides exchanged fire and accused each other of carrying out attacks on the vital waterway.

While the American military maintained that the strikes were defensive in nature, Iran has accused the US of targeting civilian areas during the airstrikes.

This, however, is not the first time Trump has clashed with the senior ABC News reporter.

In December 2025, the President called Scott a “terrible” reporter for asking him about US attacking boats allegedly carrying narcotics in the Caribbean.

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