Trump loses it in X-rated Oval Office rant at TIME reporters as president turns on his own Supreme Court picks and makes telling admission about gas prices
Donald Trump delivered an expletive-laden tirade at TIME magazine reporters during an hour-long Oval Office interview, accusing them of asking only negative questions. The outburst came near the end of the session when pressed on potential pardons, and reflects broader frustration with his administration's relationship with the press and the judiciary.
During the interview, Trump expressed regret at appointing Neil Gorsuch, Brett Kavanaugh and Amy Coney Barrett to the Supreme Court, complaining they frequently vote against him. The court has dealt him significant defeats, including a 6-3 ruling against his tariff powers and a decision blocking his executive order on birthright citizenship. Trump acknowledged that gas prices remain his main concern; fuel costs have risen to $4.46 per gallon from under $3 after Tehran shut the Strait of Hormuz in response to US and Israeli strikes. Republican insiders reportedly fear that rising energy costs could damage the party's chances in the upcoming midterm election.
- Trump ranted at TIME reporters over negative questions during an Oval Office interview.
- He expressed regret at appointing three Supreme Court justices who frequently vote against him.
- Gas prices remain his chief concern amid rising energy costs from Iran tensions.
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Donald Trump is the 47th President of the United States. During his earlier presidency, he appointed three justices to the Supreme Court: Neil Gorsuch, Brett Kavanaugh, and Amy Coney Barrett. Presidents traditionally hope their appointees will support their policies and agenda, as the Supreme Court has significant power over American law.
The Supreme Court has recently issued several rulings that went against Trump's administration, including decisions on tariffs and citizenship issues. When presidents appoint judges, they generally expect them to be sympathetic to their vision, so these defeats have been a point of frustration. It is relatively uncommon for a president's own appointees to rule consistently against him.
Fuel prices have become a major issue in American politics, rising from below $3 per gallon to around $4.46 in recent years. High energy costs affect household finances and are often a key factor in how voters judge an administration's performance. Republicans are particularly concerned about fuel costs ahead of the midterm elections, when seats in Congress are contested and can shift the balance of power in government.