President Donald Trump tore into the New York Times on Wednesday after the paper published yet another story portraying him as slowing down in his second term, accusing the outlet of running a politically motivated hit piece and attacking the reporter behind it.
The article suggested Trump, now 79, is showing “signs of fatigue,” citing shorter workdays, fewer public appearances, and moments when he appeared to rest his eyes during Oval Office meetings. The Times also noted that Trump’s public schedule has narrowed to generally between noon and 5 p.m., with fewer domestic trips than in his first term.
Trump fired back on Truth Social, insisting he remains energetic, active, and fully capable of executing the demands of the presidency. He said the effort he puts into running the country “requires a lot of Work and Energy, and I have never worked so hard in my life.” The president said the Times deliberately ignores that reality in favor of a narrative that serves the political left. “Yet despite all of this,” he wrote, “the Radical Left Lunatics in the soon to fold New York Times did a hit piece on me that I am perhaps losing my Energy, despite facts that show the exact opposite.”
He accused Times White House correspondent Katie Rogers, one of the article’s authors, of being “a third rate reporter who is ugly, both inside and out” and who is “assigned to write only bad things about me.” Trump said the entire premise of the article is false, adding that he recently completed a “PERFECT PHYSICAL EXAM AND A COMPREHENSIVE COGNITIVE TEST (‘That was aced’),” which he said proves he is not experiencing any meaningful decline. “There will be a day when I run low on Energy,” Trump wrote. “It happens to everyone, but… it certainly is not now!”
The New York Times defended its reporting. Times spokesperson Nicole Taylor said, “The Times’s reporting is accurate and built on firsthand reporting of the facts. Name-calling and personal insults don’t change that, nor will our journalists hesitate to cover this administration in the face of intimidation tactics like this.” She said reporters like Rogers provide an essential public service. The story was co-written with Dylan Freedman and emphasized that Trump, at 79, is the oldest person ever elected president and is “aging.”
The Times cited an instance on November 6 when Trump’s eyelids “drooped until his eyes were almost closed, and he appeared to doze on and off for several seconds.” The article contrasted Trump’s condition with how he presents himself publicly, noting his frequent references to former President Biden’s health issues. Trump has spent years mocking Biden as “Sleepy Joe” and frequently points to Biden’s visible frailty, limited public schedule, and tightly controlled appearances.
Trump’s attack on Rogers fits into his long-running pattern of taking on the media directly. Since launching his first presidential campaign in 2015, Trump has repeatedly criticized reporters and labeled unflattering coverage as “fake news.” Just weeks earlier, aboard Air Force One, he told a different reporter, “Quiet, piggy,” after she questioned him about documents tied to Jeffrey Epstein.
Trump’s health has drawn additional scrutiny since his return to the White House, especially as Biden’s own health collapse dominated headlines before and after the end of his term.
Last month, Trump underwent an MRI during his annual physical. He told reporters he had “no idea what they analyzed,” but the White House later disclosed that Trump had been diagnosed with chronic venous insufficiency after testing in July for mild swelling in his legs and bruising on his hand. His doctor said the bruising was consistent with “minor soft tissue damage from frequent handshaking.”
Despite the Times’ portrayal, Trump and his team insist he remains mentally sharp, physically capable, and fully engaged. The president says the establishment media is simply recycling an old tactic—attacking his stamina—because they have nothing else.
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