Trump lashes out at ABC reporter over Khashoggi question

President Donald Trump on Tuesday harshly criticized ABC News' chief White House correspondent Mary Bruce, calling her a "terrible reporter" and suggesting the network's broadcast license should be revoked, after she asked pointed questions during a White House session with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.

Bruce was among the reporters allowed into the Oval Office to pose questions to both leaders. She first asked Trump about the appropriateness of his family's business dealings in Saudi Arabia while he was president. She then addressed the crown prince: "Your Royal Highness, US intelligence concluded that you orchestrated the brutal murder of a journalist. 9/11 families are furious that you are here in the Oval Office. Why should Americans trust you? And the same to you, Mr. President."

Trump immediately questioned which network she represented, labeled ABC "fake news," and defended his family's business activities. He dismissed intelligence findings suggesting the crown prince's likely involvement in the 2018 killing of Washington Post journalist Jamal Khashoggi, describing the journalist as "extremely controversial" and noting that many people disliked him. Prince Mohammed, for his part, called Khashoggi's death "painful" and "a huge mistake."

Trump continued to criticize Bruce after she asked about the delayed release of correspondence from sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. He said, "It's not the question that I mind. It's your attitude. I think you are a terrible reporter. It's the way you ask these questions," adding, "people are wise to your hoax" and suggesting that ABC's FCC license should be reviewed.

ABC News had no comment on the president's remarks. Separately, Bloomberg News responded after Trump previously called one of its reporters, Catherine Lucey, "piggy" during a Q&A last Friday, reaffirming that its journalists perform "a vital public service" by asking questions without fear or favor.