In a tense Oval Office exchange during a diplomatic visit with South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, President Donald Trump had NBC News reporter Peter Alexander escorted out after a heated back-and-forth — calling the journalist “a disgrace.”
Since returning to the White House in January 2025, Trump has doubled down on his hardline approach toward the press, particularly with reporters and outlets he believes demonstrate partisan bias. He has previously restricted access for some media organizations, reinforcing the adversarial relationship between his administration and left-leaning outlets like CNN, MSNBC, and NBC.
The clash unfolded when Alexander questioned Trump about his past remarks concerning violence against white farmers in South Africa — a topic that has sparked controversy both domestically and abroad. Trump repeated his earlier concerns and accused the reporter of distorting the facts in coverage.
The confrontation highlights the ongoing friction between the Trump administration and mainstream media, particularly networks the former president views as unfairly critical. NBC and its affiliates have frequently been at the center of Trump’s complaints about media bias.
This isn’t the first time Trump has taken direct action against news outlets. In 2023, he voiced intense frustration with NBC News and MSNBC over what he called slanted coverage and even threatened legal action. He later followed through with a $20 billion lawsuit against CBS News after an edited segment involving former Vice President Kamala Harris aired on 60 Minutes in October 2025. The clip, according to Trump, misrepresented Harris’ remarks about the U.S.-Israel relationship.
The lawsuit has since moved into mediation, according to USA Today, and could potentially end in a settlement by CBS’s parent company, Paramount Global. This possibility has raised red flags among press freedom advocates concerned about the implications for journalistic independence.
Trump’s supporters often champion his stance on the media, arguing that he’s not stifling free speech but demanding higher standards of accountability from the press. Under his leadership, access has expanded for conservative voices, independent commentators, and influencers, while more traditional outlets — particularly those critical of the administration — face increased scrutiny.
