'You're a loud person': Trump snaps at ABC reporter over $10 billion IRS lawsuit

WASHINGTON, DC: Donald Trump criticized an ABC News correspondent on Friday after being questioned about his newly filed $10 billion lawsuit against the Internal Revenue Service and the Treasury Department. This incident is part of a recent pattern of hostile interactions he has had with reporters.

The event took place in the Oval Office during a ceremony for signing an executive order related to an IndyCar race planned around the US Capitol for America’s 250th anniversary.

As reporters shouted questions, ABC News White House correspondent Karen Travers attempted to ask Trump about the lawsuit, which had been filed just hours earlier.

Instead of addressing the details of the case, Trump interrupted Travers and dismissed her question, and then turned his attention to another reporter.

'You’re a loud person', Trump tells reporter

During an Oval Office appearance, which also followed the release of additional files related to Jeffrey Epstein, Trump took questions from reporters. Travers pressed him directly.

“Mr President, why are you suing this administration and the IRS? Why are you suing?” she asked.

“Who are you with?” Trump responded. When Travers replied that she worked for ABC News, the president snapped back: “You’re a loud person. Very loud. Let somebody else have a chance.”

As Travers attempted to follow up, Trump refused to engage with her and criticized both her and her outlet.

“ABC fake news,” he said. “Go ahead. I didn’t call on you.. ABC, by the way, is truly one of the worst.”

He then moved on to another reporter, shifting the conversation to a question about Russia and Ukraine without addressing the lawsuit.

Trump's recent attacks at press

The exchange is part of ongoing confrontations where Trump has targeted reporters reporting on his administration.

Recently, he has called female journalists insults such as “piggy” and “stupid.” 

The White House has consistently denied claims that the president’s criticisms are sexist. 

After Trump previously told a Bloomberg reporter to be a “quiet piggy,” press secretary Karoline Leavitt defended his conduct.

“Look, the president is very frank and honest with everyone in this room,” Leavitt said. “He gets frustrated with reporters when you lie about him, when you spread fake news about him and his administration.”

Trump's lawsuit against IRS

The lawsuit names the IRS, the Treasury Department, the Trump Organization, and Donald Trump’s two eldest sons.

 It seeks at least $10 billion in damages, arguing that the federal government failed to prevent the leak of Trump’s tax records by an IRS contractor in 2019 and 2020.

The complaint claims that this disclosure caused “reputational and financial harm” and “unfairly tarnished” the business standing of Trump and his family. 

In 2023, former IRS contractor Charles Littlejohn pleaded guilty to leaking Trump’s tax information to the New York Times. He was sentenced to five years in prison for this offense.

The reporting based on those leaked records revealed that Trump paid just $750 in federal income taxes in 2016 and had not paid any federal income tax for most of the preceding 15 years.