All the times Donald Trump has failed to understand foreign reporters as US President tells Indian journalist he ‘can’t understand’ his accent
Donald Trump telling an Indian journalist at the White House that he could not understand him is far from the first time he has struggled with foreign accents.
In fact, just two weeks earlier the President failed to understand a question from a reporter from Afghanistan – instead telling her that her accent was ‘beautiful’.
Back in 2018, Mr Trump said he could not follow what a Japanese reporter was saying during a question about trade, and asked him: ‘Say hello to Shinzo.’
On the same day, he also told a woman asking him about two Muslim women winning seats in Congress: ‘I don’t understand what you’re saying. What?’
Here, MailOnline looks back at several times the President has struggled to understand reporters during press conferences at the White House:
Indian reporter – ‘It’s the accent, it’s a little bit tough for me’
The latest incident involving Donald Trump being apparently unable to understand a reporter came during a press conference with Narendra Modi yesterday.
The US President was standing alongside the Indian prime minister at the White House when a reporter asked Mr Trump about the extradition of Tahawwur Rana.
Rana, who is a Canadian citizen but originally from Pakistan, is accused of being involved in the 2008 terror attack in Mumbai in which 166 people were killed.
Mr Trump said of the Indian reporter at the White House: ‘I can’t understand a word he’s saying’
Mr Trump began by saying: ‘We’ll do a few questions’, and then pointed towards the unnamed Indian reporter, saying: ‘Please. Please go ahead. Yeah, yeah, blue shirt.’
The reporter, whose identity has not yet been confirmed, can then be heard saying: ‘Thank you, Mr President. People in India will naturally welcome your decision to extradite Tahawwur Rana to India back home.
‘In that context, I’d like to ask you a question about… in the last few years, we have seen several groups in the US raising anti-India voice, calling about separation, terrorism activities in India. Do you think that should continue here in the US as well?’
Mr Trump responded: ‘You’re gonna have to go louder.’
The reporter then began speaking again, saying: ‘Mr President, people in India would be welcoming your decision to extradite Tahawwur Rana.’
Reporters hold up their hands to ask questions during a press conference by US President Donald Trump and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the White House yesterday
India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Trump at the White House yesterday
But Mr Trump eventually interrupted the journalist and said: ‘I can’t understand a word he’s saying. It’s the accent, it’s a little bit tough for me to hear that.’
The reporter asked: ‘Can I try again?’ But Mr Trump moved on, pointing to another member of the press as he said: ‘How about you? Please, go ahead back there.’
Rana was previously sentenced to federal prison in the US for providing support to the Islamist group Lashkar-e-Taiba, and the US has now approved his extradition.
Afghan reporter – ‘I can’t understand a word you’re saying’
Donald Trump also failed to understand another journalist earlier this month, when he was standing alongside Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
The President was questioned on February 4 by White House journalist Nazira Karimi, from Afghanistan, about whether he had any ‘future plans’ for Afghan people.
Ms Karimi also asked him: ‘You have any plan to change Afghanistan’s situation? Are you able to recognise Taliban, because, I’m an Afghan journalist.’
President Donald Trump said during a White House press conference on February 4 that had a ‘little hard time understanding you, where are you from?’ when questioned by Nazira Karimi
President Trump was questioned by Afghan White House journalist Nazira Karimi (centre)
But Mr Trump asked her: ‘I have a little hard time understanding you, where are you from?’ She was joined by other journalists in answering ‘Afghanistan.’
Mr Trump said: ‘Actually, 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 journalists and other observers in the room then laughed at his frank response, during a press conference which saw Mr Trump pitch the US taking over Gaza.
Ms Karimi began her career as a reporter in Afghanistan in 1990 before fleeing to Pakistan with her family in 1994 when she learned that the Taliban wanted to kill her.
She then worked for the BBC but was detained by the Taliban for three hours during an interview for the broadcaster – and ended up fleeing again, this time to the US.
US President Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House on February 4, during the press conference at which he failed to understand Nazira Karimi
Nazira Karimi poses in front of the podium in the White House briefing room (file photograph)
Ms Karimi now works for Ariana Television Network, the largest channel in Afghanistan.
She also hit the headlines in August 2021 when she broke down in tears while asking a question during a Department of Defense briefing after the Afghan government collapsed following the US withdrawal of troops.
She said at the time: ‘I’m very upset today because Afghan women didn’t that expect overnight that all the Taliban would come. They took off my flag. This is my flag.’
She then took off her facemask with the flag of Afghanistan emblazoned on it.
Japanese reporter – ‘Say hello to Shinzo!’
During Donald Trump’s previous term as US President, he told a Japanese reporter at a press conference to ‘say hello’ to the country’s then-prime minister Shinzo Abe.
At the White House in November 2018, the journalist began by asking: ‘Mr President, can you tell us how you focus on the economic…’
Mr Trump cut in: ‘Where are you from, please?’ The reporter answered, ‘Japan.’
And Mr Trump then said: ‘OK. Say hello to Shinzo’ as laughter was heard from others around the room including the reporter, who appeared surprised but said: ‘Yes.’
Donald Trump struggled to understand this Japanese reporter at the White House in 2018
The reporter and others in the room laughed when Mr Trump told him: ‘Say hello to Shinzo’
Mr Trump said: ‘I’m sure he’s happy about tariffs on his cars. Go ahead.’
The reporter carried on, saying: ‘That’s my question, actually. So how you focus on the trade and economic issues with Japan? Will you ask Japan to do more? Will you change your tone?’
Mr Trump said: ‘I don’t… I really don’t understand you.’ The reporter then said: ‘How would you focus on trade and economic…’
Mr Trump said: ‘Trade with Japan?’ And the journalist said: ‘Yes’.
Donald Trump with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe at the White House in February 2017
Mr Trump continued: ‘ Well, we’re dealing with Japan right now on trade. Japan has – it’s a great country. You have a great Prime Minister who just had a very successful election. He’s a very good friend of mine. He’s one of the people I’m closest with.
‘And – but I tell him all the time that Japan does not treat the United States fairly on trade. They send in millions of cars at a very low tax. They don’t take our cars. And if they do, they have a massive tax on their cars.
‘Japan – and I’m not blaming Japan; I’m blaming the people that were in charge of the United States for allowing that to happen.
But as you know, we have close to $100 billion trade deficit with Japan. And Japan has treated us very unfairly. But don’t feel lonely because you weren’t the only one.’
‘I don’t understand what you’re saying. What?’
At the same press conference in November 2018, Mr Trump was questioned by a reporter about two Muslim women, one in a hijab, who had won seats in Congress.
The woman, whose nationality was never given, began by asking: ‘Mr President, how do you respond to critics who say that your message on the campaign with minorities have been polarising?’
Mr Trump responded: ‘I don’t think it has been at all.’
But the journalist continued: ‘But is the election of two Muslim women, who of them is veiled, to the House, which is making history – is this a rebuke of this message, do you think?’
Donald Trump was asked in November 2018 by a journalist about two Muslim women who had won seats in Congress
Mr Trump appeared confused and said: ‘I don’t understand what you’re saying. What?’
But she added: ‘Is it a rebuke of this message? Do you think this is more reflective of multi-ethnic and multi-cultural America?’
Mr Trump then said: ‘Well, that question — I can only say this: If you look at the employment and unemployment numbers for African Americans, for Asian Americans, for Hispanic Americans, they’re at a historic high.
‘A poll came out recently where my numbers with Hispanics and with African Americans are the highest — the best they’ve ever been. That had — that took place two or three days ago, the poll.
Mr Trump appeared confused while another man held the microphone waiting to speak
‘I have the best numbers with African American and Hispanic American that I’ve ever had before. And you saw the same poll. So, I can’t say that.
‘I can say this: If you look at median income, you look at all of the employment and unemployment numbers, they’re doing the best they’ve ever done. And it reflects — it really is very reflective in the polls. ‘
Another male reporter then stood up and said: ‘Mr President, I’m from Brooklyn so you’ll understand me.’ And Mr Trump said: ‘Good. I understand you very well.’
During the same press conference, he was also questioned by a reporter from Lebanon – but again said he could not understand him when he mentioned Turkey’s President Erdoğan.
