Trump Confronts Reporters in Oval Office, Sparks Tension with Saudi Crown Prince

President Donald Trump engaged in a heated exchange with reporters in the Oval Office on Tuesday, just hours after a House vote to release files related to the late financier Jeffrey Epstein. Trump was seated beside Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman during the confrontation, which centered on the release of the Epstein files and the murder of Washington Post columnist Jamal Khashoggi. According to eyewitnesses, Trump berated an ABC reporter who had asked why he would not simply order the release of the Epstein files, given his stated support for the House vote. Trump responded by suggesting that the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) strip ABC of its broadcast license, citing the network's perceived bias against him. "I think the license should be taken away from ABC," Trump said. "Because your news is so fake, and it's so wrong." Trump also claimed that the network's coverage of him was unfair, stating that ABC had reported negatively on him 97% of the time. The FCC's chair, Brendan Carr, has not publicly commented on Trump's request. ABC has not responded to the president's comments. The exchange began when the ABC reporter asked Trump about his administration's handling of the Epstein files. Trump had previously opposed the release of the files, but reversed his position after it became clear that the House had the votes to pass the measure. The reporter also asked Trump about his business dealings in Saudi Arabia, and pressed Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman directly about the murder of Jamal Khashoggi. The killing of Khashoggi, a Saudi journalist and critic of the Saudi government, has been a source of controversy for the Trump administration. The administration has faced criticism for its close ties to the Saudi government, and for failing to take decisive action in response to Khashoggi's murder. In a statement, the White House said that Trump was "simply expressing his frustration" with the media's coverage of his administration. The statement did not address Trump's comments about ABC's broadcast license. The release of the Epstein files is still pending, as the measure must also pass the Senate before it can become law. The Senate has not yet scheduled a vote on the measure. The exchange between Trump and the ABC reporter has sparked debate about the role of the media in holding the administration accountable, and about the limits of presidential power.