White House Swats Away NYTimes’ ‘Trump Fatigue’ BS With Reporter’s Own Words

 

White House Swats Away NYT’s ‘Trump Fatigue’ BS — With the Reporter’s Own Words

Tensions between the The New York Times (NYT) and the White House under Donald J. Trump have flared anew — after a story questioning the president’s stamina spurred a fierce backlash from administration officials.

What Triggered the Firestorm

Earlier this month, the New York Times published a piece titled something like “Shorter Days, Signs of Fatigue: Trump Faces Realities of Aging in Office.” The article noted that the 79-year-old president reportedly holds fewer public events compared to his first term, tends to schedule appearances mostly between noon and late afternoon, and — at one point — appeared to doze off during a meeting. Yahoo News UK+2Yahoo+2

The story drew quick criticism from the White House, with Trump himself calling it a “hit piece,” and going as far as insulting the reporter by calling her “ugly, both inside and out.” Yahoo+2IMDb+2

What the White House Says — In Their Own Words

At the 2025 DealBook Summit hosted by the New York Times, Scott Bessent — the U.S. Treasury Secretary — publicly denounced the report. He described the NYT as a “fever swamp,” accused it of fabricating a narrative of declining energy for Trump, and declared the piece “100 percent fake.” Fox News+2Meaww News+2

Bessent mocked the idea that Trump is slowing down, arguing that the president had recently called him at 2 a.m. — suggesting robust engagement and long working hours. He predicted that in 20, 30 or more years, the New York Times “will no longer be the paper of record.” اسلام تايمز+1

Adding fuel to the fire, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt doubled down on defense — insisting Trump’s energy and transparency far outshine what she characterized as biased media coverage. Yahoo+1

Why It Matters — And What It Shows

• Media-government relations remain strained. This episode spotlights the ongoing adversarial dynamic between senior administration figures and major media institutions. By turning the spotlight back on the NYT — at the paper’s own event — the White House underscores its willingness to push back full-on against unfavorable reporting.

• Age and presidential fitness stay in the spotlight. At 79, and with visible changes in his schedule and public appearances, questions about Trump’s stamina and capacity naturally resurface. The NYT piece aimed to document that, while the White House reaction shows how politically charged and personal such coverage can become.

• Tone and rhetoric — not just facts — shape the narrative. The language used by both sides (terms like “fake,” “fever swamp,” “hit piece,” or personal insults toward a reporter) illustrates that coverage of presidential health often becomes a battleground for media credibility, political loyalty, and public perception.

Aftermath — What We Know (So Far)

• The NYT stands by its reporting. The paper argues its conclusions are based on first-hand reporting and public schedule data, and defends its journalists against personal attacks. Yahoo News UK+1

• The White House, meanwhile, continues to push back aggressively — invoking private communications, internal logs, and past performance as evidence that claims of fatigue are overblown or politically motivated. The Times of India+2zerohedge.com+2

• Many media critics suggest this might not just be about covering a president’s health — but part of a broader pattern of distrust and confrontation between this administration and outlets seen as adversarial.

Takeaway: Facts, Perception — and Power

In the modern media age, reporting on a political leader’s health or stamina rarely stays purely in the realm of facts. Coverage becomes intertwined with politics, credibility battles, and powerful messaging. The clash over the NYT’s “fatigue” story shows how quickly journalism, reputation, and political strategy merge — and why in the world’s spotlight, every word, schedule entry, or public appearance can be weaponized.

Only time — and further reporting — will tell whether the White House’s pushback will reshape media coverage norms, or whether the questions raised about age and energy will persist in public discourse.