President Donald Trump fumed at a reporter after being urged to turn his already controversial appearance at a dignified transfer into a cash grab.
The 79-year-old president has come under fire for using a photo of himself wearing a Trump merchandise hat saluting the casket of a soldier killed in the Iran war to raise money for his campaign.
A reporter pressed Trump on Sunday about the fundraising email as he returned from Mar-a-Lago, Florida, where the belligerent president had spent the weekend.
Trump used a photo of him attending a solemn transfer wearing a hat to promote a private news group receiving “national security briefings.” /X
“Your political action committee sent out a fundraising email a few days ago and was criticized for using your official White House photo in a solemn diversion,” the female reporter began before being interrupted by Trump.
“Well, unlike a lot of people, I participated in a dignified transfer,” the commander-in-chief said.
“Do you think it’s appropriate to send this email?” the reporter asked.
Website linked to newsletter asks supporters for donations to help Trump continue to deliver on his promises
“Yeah, I know,” Trump responded, before retreating to his usual escape hatch: “I didn’t see it. I mean, someone posted it. We have a lot of people working for us.”
“There’s no one better suited for the Army than me,” he continued. Trump was re-elected on a platform of “no new wars,” but he abandoned that pledge when he launched an attack on Iran more than two weeks ago, triggering a war that killed at least 13 U.S. service members.
“All you have to do is look at the election results,” Trump added, falsely claiming that no president had ever had a higher approval rating.
Facing reporters’ questioning, he felt a little disappointed.
“Who are you with? Who are you with?” he repeated, and the reporter replied that she was from ABC News.
“One of the worst, most fake, most corrupt countries [what did he say],” he fumed. “I think this is probably the most corrupt news organization on the planet. I think they are terrible. I don’t want anything more from ABC. “
Last week, Trump drew condemnation from across the political spectrum after becoming the first president in history to make a dignified transition wearing a baseball cap — a piece from his own merchandise collection.
Trump was criticized over the weekend for wearing a hat, available for purchase on his website, during the dignified transfer of six U.S. Army service members. /Nathan Howard/Reuters
In a seemingly hastily crafted email to his supporters on Friday, Trump used footage of the transfer to promote a private news distribution group that receives “national security briefings.”
“This is the first time ever that I am opening up my National Security Briefing membership,” his message read. “Seize your spot. There are not many spots left!”
The email linked supporters to Never Surrender Inc.’s website and asked them to donate $1,000 or more to support the “MAGA Agenda.”
