Support Grows for Reuters Reporter After Trump's Insult

Jacob Bogage, a journalist with Reuters, has attracted substantial public and professional support following a disparaging remark made by President Donald Trump. The incident occurred on October 29, when Bogage questioned Trump about the cancellation of his rallies in Iowa and Kansas, suggesting it might be due to the President feeling 'sick of travel'. Trump's response was not well received. He remarked, 'You are a sick guy! Reuters is terrible, by the way. Look at this guy — he's way out of shape... You are disgusting. Put yourself in shape. You look like hell.'

The exchange quickly went viral, partly due to the official social media presence of Trump's White House Rapid Response team sharing the video clip. This prompted a wave of supportive messages directed towards Bogage from colleagues and others in the media industry.

Jeff Stein from The Washington Sun praised him on social media, tweeting, '@jacobbogage is one of the finest humans and reporters I’ve ever worked with, give him a follow.' Other journalists echoed similar sentiments: Alex Kirshner, a contributor to Slate, referred to Bogage as an 'excellent reporter who rattled the most powerful person in the world,' commending his integrity and support for friends in times of need. Erik Wasson from Bloomberg Business also expressed his admiration, stating, 'Jacob is a brilliant reporter and a great guy. Hope he gets more followers out of this.'

Colleagues from Reuters, Nandita Bose and Jarrett Renshaw, also voiced their respect for Bogage's professionalism. Bose noted, '@jacobbogage is a wonderful colleague, a very talented reporter and did his job exceedingly well today.' Renshaw added, 'Glad to call @jacobbogage a colleague and friend. A tremendous reporter.'

According to his Biographical details shared by Reuters, Jacob Bogage covers the White House and has been with the agency since 2026. His journalistic focus includes U.S. economic policy, having previously worked at The Washington Post, where he covered both the White House and Congress. He started his journalism career as an editorial intern at Bethesda Magazine and has contributed to various other publications, including the Columbia Daily Tribune and Columbia Missourian. Bogage holds degrees in journalism and history from the University of Missouri-Columbia.

In his own words, Bogage describes himself as a 'Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist' dedicated to uncovering complex issues. He notably covers subjects related to economic policies, interacting with various governmental agencies, while also sharing a passion for sports.

This incident highlights ongoing tensions between the media and political figures, particularly in the context of public inquiries into health and policy decisions. Support for journalists facing adversity during press interactions underscores the significance of free speech and professional integrity in journalism.