The scene unfolded during a joint press conference with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, ostensibly focused on trade and geopolitical concerns. But the atmosphere quickly shifted when an NBC reporter challenged President Trump on the affordability of Thanksgiving dinner, igniting a fiery exchange.
The reporter’s line of questioning centered on a perceived contradiction: while prices at stores like Walmart were down, the overall size of the Thanksgiving meal might be shrinking. She suggested the lower cost was deceptive, a point she attempted to frame as a factual correction to the President’s claims.
Trump’s response was immediate and forceful. He dismissed the reporter and her network with a curt, “Fake news!” declaring NBC had “gone down the tubes.” The rebuke wasn’t simply a dismissal of the question, but a broader indictment of the outlet’s credibility.
He then pivoted to a vigorous defense of his economic record, painting a picture of unprecedented growth and investment. Trump asserted that under his leadership, the United States was experiencing a surge in jobs and a historic influx of capital, surpassing any previous administration – and any other nation.
The President specifically highlighted Walmart’s offering of turkeys for $.97 per pound, the lowest price seen in years, despite a national decline in the turkey population. He countered the reporter’s argument by stating that Thanksgiving dinner would be significantly – up to 25% – cheaper this year compared to the previous year under his predecessor.
Trump didn’t stop at economic figures. He accused the opposing party of routinely employing deception, stating, “The Democrats are good at a few things: cheating on elections and conning people with facts that aren’t true.” He framed the affordability debate as another example of this alleged pattern.
He emphasized the return of manufacturing and the nation’s leadership in emerging technologies like Artificial Intelligence, claiming the U.S. was “leading China in AI by a lot” and dominating in every significant category. According to Trump, the country had become “the hottest country anywhere in the world.”
The exchange underscored a deep-seated tension between the President and certain segments of the media, a dynamic characterized by accusations of bias and a relentless pursuit of alternative narratives. It was a moment where economic policy collided with political rhetoric, played out on an international stage.
