Donald Trump insulted NYT reporter for calling him old, so the publication did the worst thing in retaliation

President Donald Trump was the subject of renewed interest in his health. A report came out alleging that Trump is undergoing moments of fatigue, with shorter days that start at noon and end at 5.00pm so that he can get enough sleep — but immediately after the report was published, Trump took to Truth Social to take personal swipes, specifically at the reporter who wrote the article.

Trump’s health has been the cause of concern since he took back office on 20 Jan. Despite successfully using age and mental acuity as his primary campaign tool against Joe Biden in their second contest for the presidency of the United States, when he won and got sworn in, it meant Trump was officially the oldest man who has ever been inaugurated as president.

And partly because of his age, partly because of the political climate Trump created, he now had to survive the micro-analysis of his health. The first worrying sign that Trump’s health might not be as good as they say it is was a discolored bruising that appeared on his hand. His doctors quickly dismissed it as chronic venous insufficiency, which they assured was actually “benign” in the grand scheme of things.

When the new report on Trump’s health stated, “his battery shows signs of wear,” that specific line seemed to hurt his feelings. Trump referred to that play on words about battery life in his response post, insisting that he’s not low on energy yet. But it was a side remark, where he called the reporter who wrote the story, Katie Rogers, “ugly,” that actually caught attention.

The New York Times issued a very stern response on their communications page on X. The publication said their reporting was based on facts and added they consider the name-calling just another form of intimidation, but that won’t make them cower under the renewed pressure. Furthermore, in retaliation, the publication did something unexpected – they took off their normal paywall and posted a link to the story so that anyone can read it now. The paywall that has and continues to bother scores of readers was removed so all Americans and those across the globe can read the article.

The full article can be found at this gift link: https://t.co/KfhQfxakyx

— NYTimes Communications (@NYTimesPR) November 26, 2025

In the story, it’s reported that Trump took an impromptu MRI scan while flying aboard Air Force One. Normally, when someone needs an MRI, it’s because they have a splitting headache that won’t go away, are going through heart conditions, or the doctor has reason to believe they might have cancerous tumors somewhere in their body.

However, Trump was very defensive when reporters asked why he needed an MRI scan. Trump called it very standard and said his test went well. Trump said, “The doctor said it was the best result he has ever seen as a doctor.” White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt also gave the Times a direct response, saying, “Unlike the Biden White House, who covered up Joe Biden’s cognitive decline and hid him from the press, President Trump and his entire team have been open and transparent about the president’s health, which remains exceptional.”

But when it comes to coordinating narratives about Trump’s health, the Trump White House appears just as efficient as Biden’s team, ensuring consistency across all statements.