White House correspondent Andrew Feinberg has responded after President Donald Trump criticized him as a “sick person” during an Oval Office exchange. Feinberg, who works for The Independent, addressed the incident on X after being singled out by Trump during a White House Q&A session on Tuesday.
Feinberg replied to Trump’s comments by addressing JD Vance on X, stating, “Mr. Vice President, if you’re going to insult me at least have the guts to tag my account.” Vance had shared a clip of the exchange, claiming Trump had rebuked the “imbecile” journalist for his actions in the Oval Office.
The altercation took place during a lengthy press conference where Trump fielded various questions on domestic and international matters. Feinberg had been preparing to ask the president about his golf courses when the exchange began. The video shows Trump questioning Feinberg, “What’s wrong with you? Are you a sick person?” He continued by stating, “I actually think there’s something wrong with you.” Earlier, Trump had warned Feinberg, saying, “Hey! I don’t know who the hell you are, but you better be careful.”
Feinberg commented on X that he had identified himself to Trump roughly five minutes before the interaction. Responses on X included one user suggesting,
“He should have kicked you out of the Oval.”
This heated exchange followed the announcement of a $25 million fraud whistleblower incentive program at the White House. This program aims to offer rewards of up to $30,000 for information leading to taxpayer money recovery.
Throughout his presidency, Trump, 80, has often engaged in conflicts with journalists, occasionally resorting to personal attacks when questioned about policies or past statements. Feinberg, The Independent’s White House correspondent since 2022, has previously worked with Newsweek. He chose not to comment further when contacted by phone late Tuesday.
Feinberg’s LinkedIn profile describes him as a “highly energetic, fearless journalist” with substantial experience covering White House and Capitol Hill matters. He emphasizes his ability to report on both breaking news and conceptual stories, aiming to make publications he contributes to stand out.
In April, Feinberg had a brief phone interview with Trump. During this interview, Trump did not clarify Washington’s potential response if Iranian forces captured a downed Air Force colonel. Trump’s account stated that the subsequent rescue operation of the aviators was “one of the most daring search and rescue operations” in history.
Meanwhile, White House officials posted on X, criticizing Feinberg for his “disgraceful behavior” by using a slur that faced widespread condemnation.
This is breaking news, updates are expected.
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