Donald Trump Shuts Down ‘Stupid’ Question From Rachel Scott

President Donald Trump was not impressed with one question from ABC News senior political correspondent Rachel Scott.

“Mr. President, you are here against the backdrop of the war in Iran,” Scott, 33, asked Trump, 79, on Thursday, May 7, during a brief Q&A with reporters. “Why focus on all these projects right now when we’re still seeing gas prices soar?”

While explaining his renovation updates to the Lincoln Memorial and Washington Monument, Trump slammed Scott for her inquiry.

“It’s such a stupid question you ask,” he replied. “We’re fixing up the reflecting pond to the Lincoln Memorial, the Washington Monument, and you say, ‘Why are you fixing it up?’ You can understand dirt maybe better than I can, but I don’t allow it. This is one of the worst reporters. She’s with ABC Fake News, and she’s a horror show.”

The president continued, “Beauty made our country, people made our country great. A question like that is a disgrace to our country.”

Trump continued to answer questions from a few more reporters, including one unrelated to the renovations from a separate ABC News reporter.

After the exchange started spreading online, Scott shared a clip of the tense moment to her X account. She also posted an objective summary of what transpired during the Q&A.

“I asked the president why focus on these projects now amid the backdrop of the war in Iran and as gas prices soar,” Scott wrote via X on Thursday. “He said the question was ‘stupid’ and a ‘disgrace to the country’ saying he’s ‘fixing’ the reflecting pool.”

This is far from the first time Trump has attacked Scott and other reporters for questions he deems unnecessary.

In December 2025, the president held a roundtable in the Cabinet Room, where Scott asked a question about the controversial military strike on a Venezuelan boat that was said to be carrying illegal drugs.

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At the time, Scott asked whether the Trump administration was planning to release the full video of the attack.

“You are the most obnoxious reporter in the whole place,” the president replied. “Let me just tell you, you are an obnoxious — a terrible reporter. And it’s always the same thing with you. I told you.”

Scott is a University of Southern California graduate who began her career with ABC News as a production associate for ABC News Live in 2016. Before becoming the network’s lead campaign correspondent, Scott covered Capitol Hill and served as a White House correspondent and a Washington, D.C., correspondent.