President Donald Trump erupted in anger during a White House meeting with Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, demanding that ABC's broadcast license be revoked after a reporter questioned him about the Jeffrey Epstein files and his family's business dealings.
Tense Exchange in Oval Office
The confrontation unfolded on Tuesday, November 18, 2025, when ABC News White House correspondent Mary Bruce asked the president about the timing of releasing the Epstein documents. "Mr. President, why wait for Congress to release the Epstein files, why not just do it now?" Bruce questioned during the high-profile meeting in the Oval Office.
Trump immediately took offense to both the question and the reporter's demeanor. "It's not the question that I mind, it's your attitude," the president fired back. He characterized the inquiry as "terrible" and later escalated his criticism to include the entire news network.
Trump's Defense and Counterattack
The president vehemently denied any close association with the disgraced financier, stating "I have nothing to do with Jeffrey Epstein." Trump emphasized that he had "threw him out of my club many years ago because I thought he was a sick pervert, and I guess I turned out to be right."
Instead, Trump redirected attention toward other prominent figures, specifically mentioning Bill Clinton and former Harvard University president Larry Summers. "Larry Summers who ran Harvard, was with him every single night, every single weekend. They lived together, they went to his island many times. I never did," Trump alleged during the heated exchange.
Broadcast License Threat and Business Questions
The confrontation intensified when Trump called for regulatory action against the news network. "I think the license should be taken away from ABC," he declared, referencing the Federal Communications Commission chairman. The president accused ABC of being "one of the perpetrators" of what he called a "Democrat hoax" regarding the Epstein files.
Bruce also pressed Trump about allegations concerning his family business's dealings in the Middle East. Recent media reports have highlighted discussions between the Trump Organization and Saudi partners about a luxury resort development in the Maldives. The president ultimately cut off further questions from Bruce, pointing at her and declaring "No more questions from you."
The incident marks the second time in a week that Trump has clashed with a female reporter over Epstein-related questions. Last week, the president referred to another journalist as "piggy" when she raised similar inquiries about the financier.
Meanwhile, U.S. lawmakers took action on Tuesday, voting in favor of making the Epstein files public. President Trump indicated he would sign the bill if it passes the Senate. Epstein, the billionaire financier, died by suicide in a Manhattan jail in 2019 while awaiting trial on charges of sexually abusing and trafficking underage girls.
