Reporter Whose Mic Bumped Trump IDed as From NPR

 
An incident occurred at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland where President Donald Trump was accidentally bumped in the face by a reporter’s boom microphone during a press gaggle. Trump was speaking to journalists before boarding Air Force One, following a speech at the Department of Justice in Washington, D.C., when the mishap took place. Video footage captured the moment: as Trump responded to a question about the Gaza situation, a fuzzy windscreen-covered boom mic—commonly called a “dead cat”—swung into view and struck his mouth and cheek. The impact was softened by the mic’s covering, designed to reduce wind noise during outdoor filming.

Trump reacted by tilting his head back, closing his eyes briefly, and then glaring at the off-camera mic operator with raised eyebrows. A woman’s voice, presumed to be the reporter or a crew member, can be heard apologizing, saying, “I’m so sorry.” After a brief pause, Trump quipped, “She just made television tonight. She just became a big story tonight, right? Did you see that?” His mix of irritation and humor turned the awkward moment into a viral clip, widely shared across platforms like X.

WHAT THE HELL? Reporter carelessly bumps President Trump’s face with Mic.

pic.twitter.com/VtkPqo6ySP

— Juanita Broaddrick (@atensnut) March 14, 2025

The identity of the reporter or mic operator remains unconfirmed by official sources. However, posts on X from conservative activist Laura Loomer pointed to Danielle Kurtzleben, a newly appointed NPR White House correspondent, alleging it was intentional based on Kurtzleben’s past critical coverage of Trump. 

No mainstream outlet or the White House has verified this claim, and the woman in footage—wearing a beige trench coat and headphones—has not been officially named.

The Secret Service has not announced an investigation, and the White House has not commented further.

The incident underscores the chaotic, close-quarters nature of press interactions with high-profile figures like Trump, amplified by his knack for turning off-script moments into media spectacles. While minor, it briefly stole focus from his DOJ remarks and policy discussions, highlighting both his media savvy and the polarized lens through which such events are viewed.