Trump calls reporter 'very evil person' for asking question about delayed alerts before Texas floods

KERVILLE, TEXAS: President Donald Trump made headlines after lashing out at a local CBS reporter in Texas, calling her a "very evil person" for questioning the state's flood warning systems.

The tense exchange unfolded on July 11 during the first question at a press conference following Trump’s security briefing and tour of flood-ravaged Kerrville, where recent flooding claimed multiple lives.

Donald Trump praised first responders before slamming news reporter as 'evil'

During the early portion of the round table event to discuss Texas floods, President Donald Trump praised first responders and acknowledged the individual tragedies they faced.

Tensions rose when CBS News Texas reporter Marissa Armas asked Trump about families who believed delayed flood warnings contributed to the loss of life.

“Several families we've heard from are obviously upset because they say that those warnings, those alerts, didn't go out in time, and they also say that people could have been saved. What do you say to those families?” she asked.

Trump initially reiterated his praise for first responders, calling their efforts "incredible under the circumstances."

He shared, "Well, I think everyone did an incredible job under the circumstances. This was, I guess Kristi [Noem] said a one in 500, one in 1,000 years. And I just have admiration for the job that everybody did. There's just admiration."

He then said visibly irritated, "Only a bad person would ask a question like that, to be honest with you. I don't know who you are, but only a very evil person would ask a question like that."

He continued, emphasizing the scale and rarity of the disaster. “I think this has been heroism. This has been incredible. Really, the job you've all done. It's easy to sit back and say, 'Oh, what could have happened here, there. You know, we could have done something differently.' This was a thing that says – never happened before. I've never seen anything like this. I've gone to some real bad ones. I've never seen anything like this."

Turning again to first responders, Trump added, “So I admire you, and I consider you heroes and heroine and I think you've done an amazing job.”

Earlier in the event, Trump appeared to anticipate pushback from the media, asking, “Is the press going to be respectful of this event, this horrible event, this horrible tragedy?” just before Armas posed her question.

According to her Instagram, Armas had spent seven days in Kerrville covering the storm’s aftermath, often reporting from sites of destruction and interviewing families affected by the floods.

Donald Trump slammed after he calls reporter an 'evil person' for questioning delayed alerts

Donald Trump’s viral video slamming a reporter as an "evil person" sparked widespread commentary across social media.

One user supported the reporter, "Trump responding to a reporter about about whether the alerts went out in time said only an evil person would ask a question like that. Hey a**hole, the families are asking  the question. The reporter was only relaying it to you."

Another X user slammed Trump, writing, "So Trump, because you called the Reporter “evil”, let me explain; “The families asked the question YOU IDIOT! The Reporter was doing his job and you weren’t." 

A commenter said, "Sick. Trump also called any parents (or anyone) questioning the response today evil."

A person warned, "Trump calls them “evil” to deflect responsibility from his own actions. He may even block future access. But that can’t keep reporters from continuing to ask tough questions on all issues if we want democracy to continue."

A Facebook user wrote, "He's an insult to humanity." Another commenter said, "Trump is evil."

A user quipped, "He’s so insecure, anytime he is confronted with questions he can’t handle he throws a tantrum."

An Instagram follower of the reporter shared, "I didn’t find her question disrespectful or evil in any way! She stated the families wanted to know."

Another follower wrote, "Trump can’t take the criticism, he can only dish it out!!!"

"She asked a normal question that anyone would ask. Respect to you Marissa. Don’t change your evil ways!" another advised the reporter.

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