Donald Trump told a journalist from Afghanistan on Tuesday that she has a “beautiful accent” but that he didn’t understand what she was saying.
The president didn’t attempt to answer her question and then quickly moved on and took a question from someone else.
The moment came during Trump’s press conference with Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, soon after Trump had proposed the U.S. take “ownership” of war-torn Gaza.
The reporter, Nazira Karimi, asked Trump: “You have any plan to change Afghanistan’s situation? Are you able to recognize Taliban, because, I’m an Afghan journalist.”
Trump responded: “I’m having a little hard time understanding you. Where are you from?”
Karimi said: “Afghanistan.”
Trump then said: “Oh, actually, it’s a beautiful voice and a beautiful accent. The only problem is I can’t understand a word you’re saying. But, but I just say this. Good luck, live in peace.”
Karimi tried to say something but Trump had already turned to another reporter.
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Trump supporters hailed the moment as “hilarious.”
Critics accused Trump of swerving the question and of making fun of the reporter. Some described the president’s treatment of the journalist as “patronizing.”
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This weekend, Trump acolyte Marjorie Taylor Greene sparked anger with a post about the accent of French correspondent Sonia Dridi during a White House press briefing. “How about that accent from that reporter? I think we need to throw out all the foreign press! American media first!” the Republican congresswoman wrote on social media.
On Tuesday, Georgia Rep. Greene said she was introducing a bill to declare English “as the official language of the United States.”