President Donald Trump refused [1] to take questions from an ABC News reporter on Tuesday following a meeting with Argentine President Javier Milei, citing frustration over network host George Stephanopoulos’ treatment of Vice President J.D. Vance during a televised interview two days earlier.
The exchange occurred after a bilateral meeting between President Trump and President Milei, where the two leaders discussed trade, energy, and regional cooperation.
During the meeting, Trump formally endorsed Milei’s re-election campaign and praised Argentina’s recent economic reforms.
Milei presented the president with a framed copy of a letter nominating him for the Nobel Peace Prize, joining other world leaders who have submitted similar nominations in recognition of Trump’s role in brokering international peace agreements.
As the press session concluded, an ABC News correspondent attempted to ask the president about the ongoing Israel–Gaza peace agreement.
Trump immediately declined to engage, responding sharply. “I don’t take questions from ABC fake news,” he said.
He continued, “After what you did with Stephanopoulos to the vice president of the United States, I don’t take questions from ABC fake news.”
The president then called on another reporter.
The comments referred to Vice President Vance’s contentious appearance on ABC’s This Week on Sunday, which ended abruptly when Stephanopoulos terminated the interview mid-conversation.
The exchange centered on a report published by the outlet ProPublica, which accused White House Border Czar Tom Homan of accepting a “bribe” as part of what the report described as a Biden Justice Department–approved sting operation conducted before President Trump’s 2024 election victory.
According to court filings and statements reviewed after the report, prosecutors found no evidence of bribery and never pursued a criminal investigation.
Despite this, Stephanopoulos pressed the vice president repeatedly on the subject.
During the exchange, Vance pushed back, questioning the network’s priorities.
“Here’s George why fewer and fewer people watch your program and why you’re losing credibility: because you’re talking for now, five minutes with the vice president of United States about this story regarding Tom Homan, a story that I’ve read about, but I don’t even know the video that you’re talking about,” Vance said.
Stephanopoulos responded by accusing the vice president of evading the question and abruptly ending the segment.
“It’s not a weird left-wing rabbit hole. I didn’t insinuate anything. I asked you whether Tom Homan accepted $50,000, as was heard on an audiotape recorded by the FBI in September 2024. And you did not answer the question. Thank you for your time this morning,” Stephanopoulos said, cutting Vance off before he could respond.
.@VP [2] nukes George Slopidopolous for obsessing over made-up Fake News BS while not asking a single question about the Democrat Shutdown: “Here’s, George, why fewer and fewer people watch your program…”
George gets big mad, cuts @VP [2] off, and goes to commercial pic.twitter.com/VVm2FV5ujd [3]
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) October 12, 2025 [4]
The incident drew attention across major news outlets and social media platforms, where viewers debated whether the ABC host had acted prematurely in ending the discussion.
Administration officials have not commented further on the exchange, but sources familiar with the president’s remarks confirmed that Trump’s refusal to take ABC questions was a direct response to what he described as a pattern of bias.
The Tuesday meeting with Milei marked another step in the strengthening of U.S.–Argentina relations.
White House officials said both leaders plan to expand joint efforts on energy production, security cooperation, and market stability.
The event was held at the Eisenhower Executive Office Building and attended by senior administration and cabinet officials.
President Trump’s remarks to reporters concluded the session, which followed his endorsement of Milei’s re-election campaign and his commitment to continue bilateral cooperation with Argentina on economic and regional security matters.