'Can't understand a word': Trump skips Indian reporter's question
What's the story
United States President Donald Trump skipped a question by an Indian reporter during a joint press conference with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the White House.
When the reporter asked him about anti-India activities in the US, Trump said, "I can't understand a word he's saying," blaming it on the reporter's "accent."
"You're going to have to go louder," Trump responded.
Incident
Reporter asks Trump on Khalistani issue
Minutes later, another reporter from the same news channel asked Trump how the US was going to help India deal with Khalistani terrorists.
"The question is about the fact that you've decided to extradite Tahawwur Rana...But there are many other elements in the United States of America, particularly Khalistani separatists, who've been working against Indian interests."
"How's the US going to cooperate on that front with India?" the reported asked.
Twitter Post
'I can't understand a word'
Trump gets frustrated and roasts an Indian reporter:
— The Washington Observer (@WashObserver) February 13, 2025
"I can't understand a word he's saying." pic.twitter.com/K0VMtZcI5d
Response
'We're giving Rana back to India immediately'
Trump responded by saying that he believes India did not have a "very good relationship" with the Biden administration.
As for Rana, the US president said, "We're giving him back to India immediately and there are more to follow because we have quite a few requests."
This incident mirrors a similar situation last week when Trump dismissed an Afghan reporter's question due to her accent.
Media dispute
White House bars AP journalist from press conference
In a different incident at the same press conference, an AP journalist was barred from attending. This is part of an ongoing dispute between the Trump administration and AP over renaming the "Gulf of Mexico" to "Gulf of America."
AP's senior vice president and executive editor Julie Pace has criticized the move as a "deeply troubling escalation" and a violation of the First Amendment.