Former President Donald Trump directed sharp criticism at New York Times journalists Maggie Haberman and Jonathan Swan on his Truth Social platform, a day after his Justice Department subpoenaed reporters from the newspaper. The subpoenas reportedly stem from the Times' reporting on security concerns related to a newly retrofitted Air Force One jet.
Trump specifically targeted Haberman, referring to her as a "maggot" and dismissing her book about his administration as "garbage" and "90% Fake News." He also called Swan a "flunky." Trump vowed retribution, stating that Haberman would "pay the price when our Multi Billion Dollar Lawsuit against The Failing New York Times gets to Court."
These remarks followed an appearance by Haberman on The Weekend Saturday, where she questioned Trump's frequent visits to Walter Reed Medical Center and noted a perceived decline in his speaking clarity, attributing it to age. Trump responded by referencing a physical and cognitive test he stated he had just completed, though the White House later clarified he was referring to an exam from May. He asserted that Haberman and Swan would likely fail such tests.
Jonathan Swan, in response to Trump's post, commented on X (formerly Twitter), "Many people disagree with the president’s assessment. Thanks to you all for reading." He also shared an image indicating his book with Haberman was a bestseller on Amazon.
The Justice Department's subpoenas target reporters, including Julian E. Barnes, Eric Lipton, Tyler Pager, and Eric Schmitt, seeking their testimony before a federal grand jury in Manhattan. A Justice Department spokesperson stated that the reporters themselves are not the targets, but rather those leaking classified information. This action echoes similar subpoenas issued to reporters from The Washington Post and The Wall Street Journal earlier in the year, which were later withdrawn.
The New York Times' reporting focused on security concerns surrounding the new Air Force One jet, a $400 million upgrade. According to the outlet, citing anonymous sources, the older model jet was used for Trump's departure from a NATO summit in Turkey as a security precaution due to the new aircraft lacking advanced security features, such as antimissile capabilities.
In recent years, Trump's health has been a subject of public and media attention. He has made several public visits to Walter Reed, with the White House attributing some physical observations, like leg swelling and hand bruising, to chronic venous insufficiency and aspirin usage respectively. The administration has also faced scrutiny over the level of detail released regarding his medical examinations.