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A viral clip circulating on X shows President Donald Trump losing his cool with ABC’s Jonathan Karl, and viewers are calling it a full-blown meltdown. The short video, shared by multiple accounts, captures a heated back-and-forth between Trump and reporters as he prepares to enter an event. One user captioned the clip, “President Trump tells reporter to ‘quiet’ down before ripping apart ABC reporter Jonathan Karl.” Another wrote, “In an unhinged moment, Trump crashes out when asked about free speech for people who are harshly critical of him.”
What starts as a standard exchange quickly turns personal. When one reporter, it is unclear which network she was with, asks about Memphis, Donald Trump lashes out. “You’re really obnoxious,” he tells the first reporter at one point, “I’m not going to talk to you until I call you,” before pivoting to Karl.
Donald Trump Dismisses Criticism, Calls ABC ‘Terrible Network’ in Testy Exchange
Donald Trump first calls Karl a “terrible reporter” before ranting about how he’s “become immune” to unfair coverage and claims he’s been the target of unprecedented negative publicity. He also references recent legal spats and settlements, placing blame squarely on Karl and ABC, saying, “ABC is a terrible network, a very unfair network, and you should be ashamed of yourself.”
It didn’t take long for the fiery exchange to dominate social feeds, with critics piling on. One X user blasted Trump’s immaturity, mocking his jab at George Stephanopoulos, “Jeez, ‘George Slopadopoulos?’ Is he completely incapable of acting like a mature adult? … If he wanted comedians to stop dogging him, he should stop acting like an a–.”
Social Media Reacts
Another argued Donald Trump’s definition of free speech is one-sided, writing, “Trump’s idea of free speech is anyone can criticize everyone except him, proving he’s the real fragile snowflake melting down in the Oval Office.” Someone else pushed for harsher media treatment. “They need to deplatform him. Walk out and print the truth about him from elsewhere,” they said. “Cut him off, or every question should be Epstein-related.”
Another user wrote, “Trump defines free speech based on who is speaking and what they are saying… when comedians make fun of him, like he does to all those he dislikes, they are all illegally using free speech and will most likely lose their jobs.”
Meanwhile, someone else turned the focus to institutions, writing, “Trump is insane, corrupt, ignorant, etc., but the real villains are Congress, the Supreme Court, the press, and his handlers who refuse to rein him in.” Someone else mocked Trump’s “immune” claim, writing, “If he was immune to it he wouldn’t sue or fire everyone who doesn’t bow to him.”
The timing of the blow-up is notable. It comes as media attention swirls around Jimmy Kimmel’s suspension, sparking broader debates over free speech and political censorship. Reporters pressed Donald Trump on whether protections apply equally to critics of him, a question he largely sidestepped in favor of attacking Karl and ABC directly.
