Donald Trump snaps at 'sick' journalist over controversial golf course plans question

Donald Trump snapped at a journalist who questioned him about his golf courses, repeatedly telling him to be quiet before branding him a “sick person” during an Oval Office press conference.

The confrontation began when The Independent’s Andrew Feinberg addressed the president’s golf course ownership, saying: “You own a golf course, sir. You own a lot of golf courses...”

Trump interrupted him, responding: “Wait a minute. Wait, wait. Quiet. Quiet!”

The 80-year-old president had apparently called on another reporter, but Feinberg appeared to be attempting to ask about Trump’s plans for East Potomac Golf Course in Washington.

Trump subsequently asked: “What’s wrong with you? Are you a sick person?”

Feinberg replied: “Not that I know of, sir.”

The president continued: “I actually think there’s something wrong with you.”

Trump also reportedly warned the journalist to “be careful” during the exchange, adding: “I don’t know who the hell you are, but you better be careful.”

The confrontation came after Trump announced that restoration work at East Potomac would begin on 15 November, with the revamped facility expected to reopen in around 15 months.

In a post on Truth Social on Sunday, Trump promised to turn the historic public venue into “one of the Best and Most Spectacular Golf Courses anywhere in the World”.

However, the redevelopment is the subject of an ongoing legal dispute involving environmental concerns, historic preservation and the future of the popular public golfing destination.

A federal judge has ordered a halt to tree removals at the site and ruled that the government must provide notice before undertaking substantial construction work.

The controversy intensified after around 500 trees were removed from the course in October. Government officials said the work was intended to improve safety and restore the site’s original design.

Trump’s proposed start date has raised further questions about whether the redevelopment can proceed as planned while the legal proceedings continue. The White House has not immediately clarified whether the timetable conflicts with the judge’s instructions.

During Tuesday's press conference, Trump also reportedly warned Feinberg to “be careful” when questioned about his golf course plans.

Vice President JD Vance later shared footage of the confrontation on X, describing the journalist as an “imbecile” who was “misbehaving in the Oval Office”.

Feinberg subsequently said he had become a target of Trump and his team for doing his job.

The future of East Potomac remains a significant concern for local golfers, with critics warning that a major transformation could affect public access and affordability at a course that has served Washington residents for more than a century.

The legal challenge seeks to protect the historic site and its role as a public recreational space, with opponents concerned that turning it into a high-end golfing destination could change its character.

Trump’s plans form part of a wider effort to reshape prominent Washington landmarks, but the timetable for East Potomac remains clouded by the court battle.

For now, the proposed redevelopment has put one of the capital’s best-known public golf courses at the centre of a growing political and legal dispute, with questions remaining over when work can begin and what the changes will mean for the golfers who use it.