On December 8, 2025, President Donald Trump falsely denied making a comment he had made on camera just five days earlier, then launched a personal attack against the reporter who accurately quoted his previous statement. The incident highlights a pattern of behavior that has characterized Trump’s public communications throughout his political career.
The dispute centers on video footage of US military strikes on Sept. 2, 2025, against a suspected drug-smuggling boat in the Caribbean. The military conducted an initial strike, then executed a follow-up strike that killed survivors who were attempting to turn the boat back. While the Trump administration publicly released video of the first strike, footage of the second strike has been shown only to members of Congress behind closed doors.
On December 3, 2025, ABC News reporter Selina Wang asked Trump at the White House whether he would release the video of the follow-up strike so the American people could see what happened. Trump responded that he didn’t know what they had, but said that whatever they had, the administration would certainly release it with no problem.
Five days later, ABC News reporter Rachel Scott attempted to question the president about the potential video release. When she began by reminding him of his earlier statement about having no problem releasing the full video, Trump flatly denied making the comment. He told Scott, “You said that, not me,” and called ABC fake news.
Scott correctly noted that he had indeed said he would have no problem releasing the full video. She then pivoted to ask whether Trump was ordering Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to release it, noting that Hegseth says the question of whether to release the video is being reviewed. Trump responded, “Whatever he decides is okay with me.”
The president then offered a defense of the military strikes. He said the survivors were trying to turn the boat back to where it could float. Trump claimed the boat was loaded with drugs and said the administration didn’t want to see that happen.
When Scott eventually interjected to return to the issue of releasing the video, Trump called her “the most obnoxious reporter in the whole place” and “actually a terrible reporter.” These personal attacks came despite Scott having accurately quoted the president’s own words from days earlier.
Another ABC News journalist, Jonathan Karl, defended his colleague on social media platform X, writing that Scott “quoted President Trump accurately.”
The exchange represents one of numerous instances in which Trump has denied making statements that were documented on camera or in other public forums. This pattern of denying verifiable public remarks has been a consistent feature throughout his time in public life, creating confusion about his positions and complicating efforts by journalists to hold him accountable for his statements.
The dispute over the military strike video comes as the Trump administration faces questions about transparency regarding military operations. The decision to release video of the initial strike but withhold footage of the follow-up strike has raised concerns among some members of Congress and transparency advocates about what the American public should be permitted to see regarding military actions conducted in their name.
Military operations against suspected drug-smuggling vessels in the Caribbean represent part of broader counternarcotics efforts in the region. Such operations typically involve coordination between multiple government agencies and are subject to rules of engagement that govern the use of force. The decision to conduct a follow-up strike would typically require specific authorization based on continuing threat assessments.
The administration’s handling of this incident, including Trump’s denial of his own recorded statements, illustrates ongoing tensions between the president and the news media. These tensions have been particularly acute with reporters who attempt to hold him accountable for his previous comments or ask follow-up questions about controversial policies.
CNN fact-checker Daniel Dale, who has tracked numerous instances of Trump denying his own public statements, documented this latest example as part of a long history of such denials. The pattern raises questions about presidential accountability and the reliability of public statements made by the nation’s chief executive.
As the video remains unreleased to the public, the incident has become another flashpoint in debates about government transparency, military operations and the relationship between the White House and the press corps tasked with covering it.
