The president attacked a journalist’s physical appearance after being questioned about his decision to cancel a campaign trip to Kansas, just days before the midterm elections.
WASHINGTON, D.C. — October 29, 2026 — President Donald Trump verbally attacked a Reuters journalist on Thursday after being asked whether fatigue from an intensive campaign schedule had influenced his decision to cancel a planned appearance in Kansas.
The confrontation occurred at Joint Base Andrews, where Trump was answering reporters’ questions after returning from a campaign event in South Carolina.
Reuters correspondent Jacob Bogage asked whether the president’s decision to cancel the Kansas rally was related to being tired of traveling.
Trump reacted sharply.
“Oh, you’re sick to ask that question,” the president responded before asking which news organization the reporter represented.
When Bogage identified himself as a Reuters journalist, Trump criticized the news agency and turned his attention to the reporter’s physical appearance.
“You are a sick guy. Reuters is terrible, by the way,” Trump said.
He then described the journalist as being out of shape.
“You are disgusting. Put yourself in shape. You look like hell,” the president added.
The exchange was captured on video and circulated widely on social media.
Why Did Trump Cancel the Kansas Rally?
Trump had been scheduled to appear in Salina, Kansas, on Saturday, October 31, to support Republican Senator Roger Marshall ahead of the November 3 midterm elections.
Instead, the president announced that he would participate in a telephone campaign event.
Trump explained that Marshall was performing well and that he did not believe a personal appearance was necessary.
“I don’t feel I have to go to Kansas,” Trump told reporters.
He also insisted that his health was excellent, saying he felt “perfect” despite weeks of extensive campaign travel.
According to Reuters, Trump has participated in 25 campaign rallies across 19 states since October 1.
The White House said the president would take part in more than 20 telephone rallies before Election Day.
Questions About Campaign Fatigue
The confrontation occurred as Trump, 80, continued an intensive campaign schedule intended to support Republican candidates across the country.
Questions about the physical demands of the campaign have attracted attention as the president travels between states and delivers lengthy speeches.
However, there has been no confirmed medical explanation connecting the canceled Kansas appearance to a health problem.
The administration maintains that the change was a campaign scheduling decision.
A Confrontation Between the President and the Press
The incident has also drawn attention to Trump’s relationship with the news media.
Rather than limiting his answer to the reasons for canceling the Kansas appearance, the president directed personal remarks at the journalist who asked the question.
Presidents routinely face questions about their schedules, health and public appearances, particularly during intensive election campaigns.
Such questions are part of the press’s responsibility to seek information from elected officials.
The confrontation illustrates the tension that can arise when questions about presidential decisions become personal exchanges between political leaders and journalists.
Just Days Before the Elections
The incident comes as Republicans and Democrats enter the final days of campaigning before the November 3 midterm elections, which will determine control of Congress.
Trump continues to campaign for Republican candidates while his administration faces questions about economic conditions, energy policy and other national issues.
For now, the canceled Kansas appearance has generated attention for reasons beyond the original campaign schedule.
What began as a question about a canceled political rally ended in a public confrontation over the president’s treatment of a journalist — another moment placing the relationship between political power and press scrutiny in the national spotlight.
Sources: Reuters, Associated Press, The Washington Post, New York Post and Mediaite — October 29, 2026.
By NJ RADAR Team