Donald Trump came under fire on Thursday after he said he could not understand the French accent of a foreign reporter who asked a question in English.
Anti-MAGA critics called the comments a “snide” and “rude” remark.
Social media users mocked the US president, asking how he manages conversations with first lady Melania, who is also an immigrant from Slovenia.
The incident began when Trump asked the reporter to repeat her question “louder.” She was asking whether he saw the Israeli parliament’s symbolic vote to apply its laws in the West Bank “as a challenge to your peace efforts.”
Trump still struggled to understand the question. He turned to his Attorney General Pam Bondi and said, “Will you answer that, please? Because I cannot understand a word she’s saying.” He then asked the reporter directly, “Where are you from? Where are you from?”
“I’m from France,” she replied.
“You’re from France,” Trump said. “Beautiful accent, but we can’t understand what you’re saying.”
After Bondi relayed the question to Trump, he eventually responded: “The West Bank? Don’t worry about the West Bank. Israel’s not gonna do anything with the West Bank, OK? Don’t worry about it. Is that your question? They’re not gonna do anything with the West Bank. Don’t worry about it. Israel’s doing very well. They’re not gonna do anything with it.”
This was not the first time Trump struggled with a journalist’s accent. In February, he praised a reporter from Afghanistan for having a “beautiful accent” but said he did not understand her question. He did not answer her, instead ending the exchange with: “Good luck, live in peace.”
Anti-MAGA critics called the comments a “snide” and “rude” remark.
Social media users mocked the US president, asking how he manages conversations with first lady Melania, who is also an immigrant from Slovenia.
BREAKING: Trump just made an absolute fool of himself, not being able to understand what a French journalist clearly asked him about Israel. pic.twitter.com/FgMaXVhB8R
— Brian Krassenstein (@krassenstein) October 23, 2025
The incident began when Trump asked the reporter to repeat her question “louder.” She was asking whether he saw the Israeli parliament’s symbolic vote to apply its laws in the West Bank “as a challenge to your peace efforts.”
Trump still struggled to understand the question. He turned to his Attorney General Pam Bondi and said, “Will you answer that, please? Because I cannot understand a word she’s saying.” He then asked the reporter directly, “Where are you from? Where are you from?”
“I’m from France,” she replied.
“You’re from France,” Trump said. “Beautiful accent, but we can’t understand what you’re saying.”
After Bondi relayed the question to Trump, he eventually responded: “The West Bank? Don’t worry about the West Bank. Israel’s not gonna do anything with the West Bank, OK? Don’t worry about it. Is that your question? They’re not gonna do anything with the West Bank. Don’t worry about it. Israel’s doing very well. They’re not gonna do anything with it.”
This was not the first time Trump struggled with a journalist’s accent. In February, he praised a reporter from Afghanistan for having a “beautiful accent” but said he did not understand her question. He did not answer her, instead ending the exchange with: “Good luck, live in peace.”
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