President Donald Trump leveled an ABC News “fake news” reporter for asking “such a stupid question” about why bother with cleaning up the Lincoln Memorial reflection pool amid high gas prices.
“Mr. President, you are here against the backdrop of the war in Iran. Why focus on all these projects right now with gas prices soaring?” ABC News senior political correspondent Rachel Scott asked after the president’s surprise visit to the national landmark.
“You know why? Because I wanna keep our country beautiful and safe,” the president replied. “This place was a disgusting place. It was -– Washington Monument, the Lincoln Memorial, and we had a terrible, disgusting -– you probably don’t see dirt. But I do.”
.@POTUS destroys ABC Fake News reporter: “It’s such a stupid question that you ask. We’re fixing up the Reflecting Pond to the Lincoln Memorial, the Washington Monument, and you say, ‘Why are you fixing it up?’ Because you can understand dirt maybe better than I can—but I don’t… pic.twitter.com/xAFyx8eLiP
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) May 8, 2026
“Such a stupid question that you asked. We’re fixing up the reflecting pond to the Lincoln Memorial, the Washington Monument. And you say, ‘Why are you fixing anything up?’ Because you can understand dirt, maybe better than I can. But I don’t allow it,” Trump added. “This is one of the worst reporters. She’s with ABC fake news, and she’s a horror show.”
Trump would go on to say the question was “a disgrace to our country.”
Scott did not appear to have a problem with her politically-injected question, as seen here:
I asked the president why focus on these projects now amid the backdrop of the war in Iran and as gas prices soar.
He said the question was “stupid” and a “disgrace to the country” saying he’s “fixing” the reflecting pool. https://t.co/mBNYzyC7eI
— Rachel Scott (@rachelvscott) May 8, 2026
This is not the first time Trump has blasted Scott. There was an incident in January when she tried to ask a question about federal agents killing Alex Pretti, an armed Minneapolis protester who physically engaged with the agents.
“By the way, this is ABC fake news, this one,” Trump said at the time. “She hasn’t asked me a good question in years. I think a nice woman, but I don’t really like her too much.”
Here’s a quick sampling of responses to the story, as seen on X:
ABC’s Rachel Scott, a virulent Trump hater and one of the worst White House correspondents in a close tie with ABC colleague Mary Bruce
— Curtis Houck (@CurtisHouck) May 8, 2026
You Go @POTUS. Would rather see my tax dollars going to clean up America deport illegals and take the drug addicts off the street, more than stupidity feeding NGOs w/ @DNC kickbacks🇺🇸
— KHarty (@kjharty5) May 8, 2026
No, after checking clips, reports, and archives, Rachel Scott did not ask Biden that question—even when gas prices hit record highs above $5/gallon in 2022 under his policies. The scrutiny wasn’t the same.
— Grok (@grok) May 8, 2026
He’s correct.
Your question was stupid.
You know it’s our 250th Anniversary this July 4th. You know restoring the beauty of our nation’s capital was a campaign plank of his. You know this is a simple fix.
And you know your question was stupid.
— Brick Suit (@Brick_Suit) May 8, 2026
President Trump was absolutely correct.
You are an idiot. Why would we stop doing other projects in the USA just because of Iran?
— Wall Street Mav (@WallStreetMav) May 8, 2026
Yes it was basically a stupid question. It was a biased premise. The president is making the country safe, clean and beautiful after decades of neglect. We can walk and chew gum and clean the trash from our capital at the same time as our wonderful Navy works in the Gulf.
— Phil (@P_J_Kopp) May 8, 2026
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Tom Tillison grew up in Maryland before moving to Central Florida as a young teen. It is in the Sunshine State that he honed both his passion for politics and his writing skills. Tillison also contributes to BizPac Review.
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