President Donald Trump launched sharp criticism against two New York Times reporters, Maggie Haberman and Jonathan Swan, on Saturday, just one day after the Justice Department issued subpoenas to multiple Times journalists. The subpoenas are part of a federal investigation into alleged leaks concerning Air Force One security protocols. In a post on Truth Social, President Trump lashed out at Haberman, a White House correspondent, and Swan, a White House reporter, who recently co-authored "Regime Change," a book about a potential second Trump administration.
"Maggot Hagerman has covered me incorrectly for ten years. Her book is a joke! 90% of it is Fake News." — President Donald Trump
President Trump referred to Haberman as "Maggot" and called Swan a "flunky," accusing both reporters of consistently publishing inaccurate coverage over the past decade. "Maggot Hagerman has covered me incorrectly for ten years," President Trump wrote. "Her book is a joke! 90% of it is Fake News." He also reiterated his long-standing criticism of The New York Times, referencing his ongoing lawsuit against the newspaper and alleging that its reporting attempts to influence elections. "I don’t mind bad press, if they are right. I do mind Fake Reporting," President Trump stated, adding his belief that the publication’s reporting had failed to prevent his potential return to the White House.
The President further touted his physical and cognitive health, stating he had completed medical testing at Walter Reed Medical Center and suggesting Haberman and Swan would struggle to perform as well on similar examinations. The White House later clarified that President Trump was referring to medical testing conducted in May, rather than a new, recent examination.
Following President Trump’s remarks, Jonathan Swan responded on X by posting an image showing "Regime Change" atop Amazon’s bestseller rankings, noting that "many people disagree with the president’s assessment." Earlier on Saturday, Maggie Haberman appeared on MSNBC’s "The Weekend," where she questioned the administration’s limited public disclosures regarding President Trump’s health. Haberman described President Trump’s medical condition as remaining "a black box" and pointed out that he had made several trips to Walter Reed Medical Center during his second term. She also observed that President Trump, now 80, "doesn’t speak with the same crispness" he did years ago, while acknowledging that such changes can accompany aging.
The broader dispute unfolds as the Justice Department continues its investigation into leaks concerning the security of the administration’s newly retrofitted Air Force One. This jet, donated by Qatar, recently entered service. According to The New York Times, federal prosecutors subpoenaed several Times reporters to testify before a Manhattan grand jury after the newspaper reported that President Trump used an older Air Force One aircraft following the NATO summit in Turkey due to security concerns surrounding the new jet. The report, citing anonymous sources, claimed the newer aircraft lacked some of the defensive capabilities available on the older presidential plane, including advanced missile-defense systems.
The Times reported that federal agents personally delivered subpoenas to several journalists, including Julian Barnes, Eric Lipton, Tyler Pager, and Eric Schmitt. David McCraw, an attorney representing The New York Times, criticized the Justice Department's actions, stating that the appearance of federal agents at journalists’ homes should concern all Americans who value constitutional protections for a free press. President Trump also reiterated his intent to pursue his "Multi Billion Dollar Lawsuit" against "The Failing New York Times," stating that Haberman "will pay the price" for her reporting. The escalating tensions underscore the ongoing strained relationship between the President and segments of the media, particularly amidst investigations into national security information.
