In yet another explosive moment caught during a recent press interaction aboard Air Force One, former President Donald Trump lashed out at a reporter from The Wall Street Journal, branding the iconic financial paper a “rotten newspaper” and accusing it of betraying its readers and principles.
The remark, delivered with signature Trump flair, marked the latest episode in the former president’s long-running feud with the conservative-leaning outlet that once championed many of his economic positions.
The incident unfolded during a routine media engagement, when a reporter identified themselves as being from The Wall Street Journal. Trump, without missing a beat, launched into a tirade. “Wall Street Journal has truly gone to hell. Rotten newspaper. You hear me, what I said… It’s a rotten newspaper,” he declared, glaring directly at the journalist.
The moment sent shockwaves across the press corps and was quickly picked up by political observers who saw it as another chapter in Trump’s increasingly antagonistic relationship with traditional conservative media.
Trump’s fury appears to stem from the editorial direction the Journal has taken in recent years—one that has not been entirely kind to his political agenda or personal behavior. Once viewed as a key media ally, The Wall Street Journal has grown more critical of Trump’s trade policies, particularly his use of tariffs and protectionist measures.
The Journal’s editorial board has repeatedly called out what it considers to be economically destructive moves by the Trump administration, labeling his tariffs on China, Europe, and Canada as shortsighted and harmful to American consumers and businesses.
In response, Trump has accused the publication of being “China-oriented” and more aligned with globalist corporate interests than with the needs of American workers. He’s often claimed that the Journal’s critiques are part of a broader media conspiracy designed to undermine his presidency and discredit the America First platform.
But in the eyes of many, this latest outburst reveals something deeper—an ongoing identity crisis within the conservative media sphere, where not even long-established outlets like The Wall Street Journal are safe from the former president’s wrath if they dare deviate from the MAGA script.
Trump’s contempt for the Journal is not entirely new. During his presidency, he frequently took to social media to attack the publication whenever it challenged his narratives or questioned the effectiveness of his policies.
In one post, he claimed the paper was “always negative” and “boring,” dismissing its critiques as outdated opinions from elitist editors disconnected from real Americans. That pattern has only intensified since his departure from the White House, as he doubles down on grievances and loyalty tests that increasingly shape his media interactions.
This latest insult, however, struck a particular chord, as it came just weeks after the Journal published a scathing editorial questioning Trump’s economic leadership amid ongoing concerns about inflation, trade deficits, and the mounting costs of his isolationist policies. The piece, which analyzed Trump’s second-term agenda, warned of “risky economic experiments” and a return to policies that could “destabilize global markets.”
Trump reportedly read the article personally and was infuriated by what he saw as betrayal from within the conservative establishment.
For many political analysts, Trump’s outburst is emblematic of his broader strategy: demand loyalty or issue public condemnation. In Trump’s world, media institutions are either fully on board with his agenda or they are enemies.
This binary framing has left even traditionally right-leaning outlets scrambling to define their editorial independence without becoming targets of Trump's ire.
But The Wall Street Journal, unlike some other outlets in the Murdoch media empire, has shown a consistent willingness to critique the former president when necessary.
Despite sharing ownership with Fox News, a network known for its oscillation between Trump worship and cautious criticism, the Journal’s editorial board has carved out a more independent role, often pushing back on Trump’s economic policies, political claims, and post-election conspiracy theories.
This tension isn’t without consequence. Trump’s loyal base has long been conditioned to trust only media figures and outlets that echo his worldview. By attacking the Journal in such stark terms, Trump is signaling to his supporters that even mainstream conservative institutions cannot be trusted unless they toe the line. In doing so, he deepens the media tribalism that now defines much of American political discourse.
The fallout from the incident has been swift. Social media platforms lit up with reactions, with Trump critics mocking his inability to tolerate dissent and Trump allies applauding him for standing up to what they see as establishment betrayal.
Some conservative commentators expressed concern that such vitriol directed at credible outlets could backfire by alienating moderate Republican voters who still value traditional journalism. Others, however, saw it as par for the course in Trump’s ongoing campaign to reshape the GOP in his image.
Meanwhile, The Wall Street Journal has not issued a formal response to Trump’s comments, maintaining its editorial independence without engaging in a public spat. Insiders at the paper say they are accustomed to being targets of criticism from all sides and remain committed to fact-based journalism that speaks truth to power, regardless of party.
Trump’s remarks have once again spotlighted the evolving role of media in politics—particularly the narrowing space for honest critique within the conservative ecosystem. As the former president prepares for potential future political battles, his relationships with media outlets are likely to remain a defining feature of his strategy.
He has already cemented alliances with more ideologically loyal platforms like Newsmax and OANN, while increasingly viewing institutions like The Wall Street Journal as part of the old guard, out of touch with the “new Republican Party” he claims to lead.
This scorched-earth approach to the press raises difficult questions about the future of journalism and political accountability. If major conservative publications are not allowed to question Republican leadership without being labeled “rotten,” the line between media and propaganda becomes dangerously thin.
Trump’s escalating hostility toward traditional outlets suggests a continued erosion of trust in institutions that once helped define the ideological contours of the American right.
But the bigger concern may lie in what Trump’s attacks mean for his movement as a whole. By systematically attacking any voice of dissent—including from within his own party and media sphere—Trump reinforces a culture where loyalty trumps logic, and echo chambers become fortresses.
In such an environment, policy takes a back seat to personality, and facts are measured by the degree to which they flatter or threaten the leader.
Whether The Wall Street Journal will change its approach in response remains to be seen. But what’s clear is that Trump’s media enemies list continues to grow, and few are safe from his verbal lashings—not even one of the most respected newspapers in the country.
