Lifestyle | Newsbreak

Sarah Matthews, Former Trump Press Secretary, Accuses President of Targeting ‘Assertive Women’ After CNN Clash

By Mitchell Ngaira, on August 19, 2026

This post may contain affiliate links. Please see our disclosure policy for details.

Click to add us as a Google Trusted Source

Sarah Matthews, a former Trump deputy press secretary, is calling out the president after his clash with CNN’s Kristen Holmes, describing him as “an 80-year-old man child.”

Matthews argued the exchange reflected a larger issue with how Trump responds when confronted with difficult questions, saying he reacts negatively when journalists, particularly women, challenge him.

The criticism drew attention because Matthews was once part of Trump’s own White House communications team. She served as a deputy press secretary during his first administration before becoming one of several former officials who have publicly criticized aspects of his leadership style.

In a video shared by The Bulwark, Matthews said Trump’s response to Holmes was not simply about a disagreement with a reporter’s question.

“It’s abundantly clear that he feels threatened by assertive women, and he reacts negatively when reporters, especially women, pose challenging questions that he struggles to answer,” Matthews said.

Her comments came after Trump’s heated exchange with Holmes during an Oval Office event honoring 16-year-old California lifeguard Ryder Williams, who was recognized for rescuing a child.

What Happened Between Trump And CNN’s Kristen Holmes

President Donald Trump
Photo Credit: Gints.ivuskans via Deposit Photos

Holmes, CNN’s senior White House correspondent, questioned Trump about criticism from Democratic Sen. Jon Ossoff involving White House executive assistant Natalie Harp.

Ossoff had recently criticized Trump at an Atlanta rally, accusing the president of focusing on projects and personal travel rather than his presidential responsibilities. Trump responded by attacking Ossoff, calling him a “Pee-wee Herman look-alike.”

Holmes then attempted to ask Trump about North Korea and whether leader Kim Jong Un had requested that the United States reduce joint military exercises with South Korea.

The exchange quickly became tense.

Trump told Holmes: “Quiet, quiet, quiet. You’re very disrespectful.”

He later called her “a loud, boisterous person,” accused CNN of being “fake news,” and said: “You’re a fake reporter and you report fake news.”

The president did not directly answer Holmes’ question about North Korea during the exchange.

White House Response Sparks Additional Criticism

The dispute continued after the Oval Office exchange when the White House Rapid Response account on X criticized Holmes.

The account described Holmes as a “disgraceful, humiliating embarrassment” and accused her of using an event honoring a young lifeguard to take a political shot at Trump’s staff.

The response became more controversial when the account referenced Holmes’ children, writing:

“Someday, your children will come across your disgusting and inhumane question. They will be sickened and embarrassed to have a parent be so callous and vindictive.”

Critics argued that bringing a reporter’s family into a dispute over a question crossed a line. CNN defended Holmes, saying she asked a “tough, relevant and newsworthy” question and that personal attacks against journalists were inappropriate.

CNN journalists also defended Holmes publicly, arguing that reporters covering the White House have a responsibility to ask difficult questions, even when those questions are uncomfortable for officials.

Save this article

Enter your email address and we'll send it straight to your inbox.

Why Matthews’ Comments Stand Out

Matthews’ criticism carries a different weight because she previously worked inside Trump’s administration.

As a member of the White House communications team, Matthews helped explain and defend administration policies. Her decision to publicly criticize Trump’s interaction with a reporter has made her comments central to the broader debate over the president’s relationship with the media.

Her statement about Trump being “threatened by assertive women” is her personal interpretation of the exchange, not an independently verified finding. However, the exchange with Holmes brought earlier confrontations back into the spotlight.

In October 2018, he told ABC News correspondent Cecilia Vega, “I know you’re not thinking. You never do,” after calling on her during a Rose Garden news conference.

More recently, Trump’s interactions with CNN’s Kaitlan Collins drew attention after he criticized her during an Oval Office exchange, calling her “the worst reporter” and questioning why she did not smile while asking about the release of Jeffrey Epstein-related documents.

Trump’s supporters have long argued that his attacks on media outlets are a response to what they view as unfair coverage. They see confrontations with reporters as part of his broader criticism of mainstream news organizations.

Related: ABC, NBC and CBS Face Backlash After Limiting Trump’s Primetime Address

A Familiar Battle Over the White House Press Corps

The clash with Holmes adds to a long-running conflict between Trump and journalists covering his administration.

For supporters, Trump’s willingness to challenge reporters is evidence that he pushes back against hostile coverage. For critics, personal attacks on journalists raise questions about how political leaders should engage with the press.

This latest dispute gained additional attention because the criticism did not come only from media organizations or political opponents. It came from a former Trump communications official who once worked inside the administration.

When a former White House insider breaks with the president she once helped represent, how does it change how Americans view the criticism?

More Articles:

Share this