Donald Trump got people talking again after he made a comment about a female reporter’s appearance during a formal event at the White House. He said something nice about how she looked, even though he admitted out loud that he had been warned not to.
The event was about promoting peace between the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Rwanda. The U.S. helped bring the two countries together in hopes of ending a long-running conflict in eastern Congo. Important figures from both African nations were there, along with U.S. Vice President JD Vance.
During the ceremony, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt had invited Hariana Verás, a journalist originally from Angola who now works in the U.S. and covers politics. At one point, Trump looked at her and decided to speak up. He said Leavitt had told him not to say anything because it wouldn’t be politically correct, but he went ahead anyway and called Verás “beautiful.” Then he added that she was beautiful on the inside, too, and said he wished more reporters were like her. He ended the moment by joking that it might cost him his political career.
Verás smiled, and a few people in the room laughed, but it didn’t take long for the clip to spread all over social media. Reactions were divided.
Some people thought the whole thing was awkward and uncomfortable. One person on Reddit compared Trump to an old grandpa trying to flirt with a young waitress. Others criticized him for only noticing how the reporter looked and ignoring her professional skills. They felt it showed a habit of judging women based on appearance rather than talent or intelligence.
A number of people felt the comment was out of place, especially during a formal event. They said it’s important to know when it’s better to stay quiet, and this was one of those moments. Someone even mentioned that being respectful often means knowing when not to speak at all.
There was also criticism aimed at JD Vance, who didn’t react to Trump’s remark. Some thought his silence made it seem like he didn’t think anything was wrong, which bothered people who felt the comment should’ve been called out.
On X (formerly Twitter), many users said the comment was disrespectful and contributed to a workplace culture where women often aren’t taken seriously. They felt it was another example of how women get reduced to their looks, even when they’re doing their jobs professionally.
Still, not everyone thought it was a big deal. A few people defended Trump, saying there’s nothing wrong with complimenting someone. One person even said the reporter did look great and didn’t see the harm.
In the end, some viewed the moment as sweet or innocent, but many believed it was unprofessional and highlighted bigger problems with how women are treated—especially in serious work settings where their skills and voices should be the focus, not their appearance.
