President Donald Trump insulted two female reporters on Tuesday, calling one a “dumb person” after she asked about the controversial White House ballroom project, and another a “stupid person” after she asked about inflation.

Speaking outside the White House, Trump responded to MS NOW reporter’s Akayla Gardner comment about the cost of the ballroom doubling, making the perplexing statement that it’s “on budget, under budget” and also “ahead of schedule.”

“I doubled the size of it, you dumb person,” Trump told Gardner. “Double the size. You are not a smart person.”

Another female reporter asked Trump about rising inflation and whether his policies were working.

“They’re working incredibly,” Trump said. “If you go back to just before the war, for the last three months, inflation was at 1.7%. Now, we had a choice. Let these lunatics have a nuclear weapon — if you want to do that, then you’re a stupid person.”

“And you happen to be. I mean, I know you very well,” he continued, directly addressing the reporter. “Anybody that wants them to have a nuclear weapon is a stupid person.”

In a comment to HuffPost, the White House defended Trump’s behavior.

“President Trump has never been politically correct, never holds back, and in large part, the American people re-elected him for his transparency,” said Abigail Jackson, a White House spokesperson. “This has nothing to do with gender – it has everything to do with the fact that the President’s and the public’s trust in the media is at all-time lows.”

On social media, the White House referred to Gardner as “FAKE NEWS” and praised Trump’s response with a fire emoji and crying-laughing emoji.

The Washington Association of Black Journalists called out Trump’s aggression toward Gardner, saying she is “far from a ‘dumb person.’”

“This was a perfectly fair question,” the group wrote on LinkedIn, adding that Gardner “is known and respected for her fearless and sharp reporting. The president’s behavior toward the Black women who cover the White House — our members Ebony McMorris, Rachel Scott and Akayla — in recent months is unacceptable and unhinged.”

Trump habitually insults female journalists. In the past, he told one female reporter, “Quiet, piggy,” called another “ugly” and a “third-rate reporter,” and said others were a “disgrace,” “horrible,” “stupid and nasty,” and more.

Last Thursday, ABC News correspondent Rachel Scott asked Trump about his decision to prioritize remodeling projects like the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool when gas prices are high amid the war in Iran.

“You know why? Because I wanna keep our country beautiful and safe,” Trump said. “This place was a disgusting place.”

Scott attempted to ask a follow-up question, but Trump interrupted.

“Such a stupid question that you asked,” he said. “We’re fixing up the reflecting pond to the Lincoln Memorial, the Washington Monument, and you say, ‘Why are you fixing anything up?’ Because you can understand dirt, maybe better than I can, but I don’t allow it.”

“This is one of the worst reporters. She’s with ABC Fake News, and she’s a horror show.”

He continued: “A question like that is a disgrace to our country.”

The White House praised Trump for insulting Scott on social media, writing, “@POTUS destroys ABC Fake News reporter.”

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