“Quiet!”: Trump’s anger at reporter says a lot about his mind right now

As Donald Trump left the White House for a state visit, a tense interaction with ABC journalist John Lyons drew attention, once again marking his conflicted relationship with the media.

Shortly before boarding Marine One, Donald Trump was stopped by reporters in the White House driveway.

Among them was John Lyons, Americas Bureau Chief for the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC), who was preparing a report for the Four Corners program. Lyons asked Trump about the evolution of his wealth since he returned to the presidency in January 2025.

Trump’s response was swift and incisive. The tone escalated when he accused the journalist of damaging relations between the United States and Australia. Trump said the question was unwelcome and warned that it could have diplomatic repercussions, particularly in the context of the upcoming visit between him and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.

Then, in a sudden fit, he shouted “Quiet!” to the journalist while gestering the order, before continuing towards his helicopter for departure.

John Lyons, ABC’s Americas bureau chief, defended his approach after the tense trade. He explained that the role of journalists is to hold the powerful accountable and that it should be perfectly acceptable to ask legitimate questions, politely, of the president of the United States.”

On the Australian side, this scene prompted reactions in support of the press. Several politicians and media outlets denounced Trump’s attitude as an attempt at intimidation, or even an attack on press freedom.

Donald Trump was already criticized after ABC’s suspension of Jimmy Kimmel that provokeds outrage. The talk show was taken off the air after comments by the host criticizing the Trump administration’s handling of the murder of right-wing activist Charlie Kirk. The decision was immediately interpreted as an attack on free speech, fueled by the president’s public forwards and pressure from FCC Chairman Brendan Carr.

Across the media landscape, reaction was immediate. Stephen Colbert, Jon Stewart and Seth Meyers denounced what they saw as direct censorship, pointing out that sanctioning a host for government criticism sets a dangerous precedent. Several elected Democrats, as well as some Republicans, expressed their concerns, arguing that the state should not have a say in the programming of TV channels.

Beyond the Kimmel case, the affair rekindles the debate on the fragile relationship between executive power and the media in the United States. Combined with Trump’s desire for journalists to remain “silent”, it is seen by many as an attempt to silence dissenting voices, a move they argue endangers the constitutional principle of press freedom.