White House erupts at ‘gutter trash’ CNN journalist over report on Trump’s advanced age

Reporter Kevin Liptak intensified the conversation on Tuesday, May 26, with a headline that read 'Trump’s advanced age and threats to his life serve as reminders of his own mortality'
President Donald Trump walks after placing a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Arlington National Cemetery on Memorial Day, Monday, May 25, 2026, in Arlington, Va. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
President Donald Trump walks after placing a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Arlington National Cemetery on Memorial Day, Monday, May 25, 2026, in Arlington, Va. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

WASHINGTON, DC: With scrutiny around Donald Trump’s health growing louder, the White House appears to be drawing a hard line against the speculation.

A CNN reporter was recently forced to face wrath from White House's rapid response team over a report examining the political and personal implications of the president’s health and threats against him.

President Donald Trump waves upon returning to the White House following the 158th National Memorial Day Observance coinciding with the nation's 250th anniversary, in Washington Monday, May 25, 2026, in Arlington, Va. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
President Donald Trump waves upon returning to the White House following the 158th National Memorial Day Observance coinciding with the nation's 250th anniversary, in Washington, Monday, May 25, 2026, in Arlington, Va. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

Reporter Kevin Liptak intensified the conversation on Tuesday, May 26, with a headline that read “Trump’s advanced age and threats to his life serve as reminders of his own mortality.”

Kevin Liptak’s report on Trump’s ‘mortality’

Liptak’s piece focused on Trump’s health and the swirl of public attention it has received following Trump’s visit to Walter Reed National Military Medical Center for his annual physical ahead of his 80th birthday next month.

It is the third time he’s visited the facility for a medical exam since returning to the office, during which time he has faced mounting concerns about mental and physical decline.

WASHINGTON, DC - DECEMBER 06: Bandages are visible on the hand of U.S. President Donald Trump during the medal presentation ceremony for the 2025 Kennedy Center Honorees in the Oval Office of the White House on December 06, 2025 in Washington, DC. The 2025 Kennedy Center honorees are Sylvester Stallone, George Strait, the rock band KISS, Gloria Gaynor, and Michael Crawford. (Photo by Aaron Schwartz/Getty Images)
Bandages are visible on the hand of President Donald Trump during the medal presentation ceremony for the 2025 Kennedy Center Honorees in the Oval Office of the White House on December 06, 2025, in Washington, DC (Aaron Schwartz/Getty Images)

The report also spoke of 'repeated' attempts on the President's life, crediting Trump with showing “remarkable sangfroid” in the face of “repeated” attacks and security incidents.

The report further noted that Trump himself has increasingly alluded to his own mortality during public appearances, particularly in the aftermath of multiple assassination attempts and growing security threats surrounding the presidency.

It also stated that even a clean bill of health may not allay public concerns about Trump's health, particularly after Joe Biden's disastrous 2024 election bid.

Liptak went on to outline the president's purported 'physical deterioration', including recent bruising spotted on his hands and swelling in his legs.

DAYTONA BEACH, FLORIDA - FEBRUARY 16: U.S. President Donald Trump exits Air Force One for the NASCAR Cup Series Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway on February 16, 2025 in Daytona Beach, Florida. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images)
President Donald Trump exits Air Force One for the NASCAR Cup Series Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway on February 16, 2025, in Daytona Beach, Florida (Chris Graythen/Getty Images)

White House slams Kevin Liptak as ‘radical lunatic’

As Liptak’s report gained traction, the White House's rapid response team issued a response within minutes, with an insult and an edit of their own.

The Rapid Response team hit out, saying that it was the “radical left lunatics” inciting violence against Trump, and failed to grasp the larger picture in the report about his aging.



"You're an idiot," the account posted on X, directing the insult at Liptak. "The 'threats to his life serve as reminders' that Radical Left lunatics — incited by outlets like gutter trash CNN — keep trying to murder him."

The account also defended the president's work ethic, claiming Trump "works harder in one day than you have in your entire life."

The post shared a screengrab of CNN’s headline alongside Kevin Liptak’s byline, but left out key portions of the report that addressed ongoing public speculation about Trump’s health following several widely discussed public appearances and incidents.

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