U.S. President Donald Trump once again avoided answering a tough question, this time blaming an Indian reporter’s accent. The incident occurred during a joint press conference with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the White House on Thursday.
When the journalist asked about anti-India activities in the U.S., Trump interrupted, saying, “You’re going to have to go louder.” As the reporter repeated the question, Trump responded, “I can’t understand a word he’s saying. It’s the accent; it’s a little bit tough for me.”
This is not the first time Trump has dodged a question by citing difficulties in understanding a reporter’s accent. In a previous press conference with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Trump had similarly avoided a question from an Afghan journalist. Addressing the female reporter at the time, he said, “It’s a beautiful voice and a beautiful accent. The only problem is I can’t understand a word you’re saying. But I just say this—good luck, live in peace.”
The latest instance has drawn criticism, with many interpreting it as an attempt to sidestep difficult questions on an international stage. Prime Minister Modi was seated beside Trump during the exchange, though he did not intervene.
Critics argue that such remarks undermine press freedom and raise concerns about the treatment of foreign journalists covering critical issues. The incident has also sparked debates about whether Trump intentionally uses language barriers as a way to evade accountability.
