Trump pounds Maggie Haberman for ‘so-called sources’ after 9/11 report — Tapper rides to rescue

BS BULLETIN:

President Donald Trump erupted over reporting that he is skipping the Ground Zero 9/11 ceremony because politicians aren’t allowed to deliver speeches there.
Trump flatly denied ever asking to speak and challenged New York Times reporter Maggie Haberman’s anonymous sourcing.
CNN’s Jake Tapper quickly defended Haberman, calling Trump’s attack “disgusting and beneath the office.”

President Donald Trump wants to meet Maggie Haberman’s sources. Or at least find out whether they exist.

Trump unloaded Friday after The New York Times reported that he plans to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks at the Pentagon rather than Ground Zero in New York.

The report said Trump’s desire to deliver remarks was part of the reason. Politicians have been barred from speaking at the Ground Zero ceremony since 2012 in an effort to keep the commemoration focused on victims and their families.

NEW: Trump will not attend the annual commemoration in NYC for the 25th anniversary of 9/11, in part because he wouldn’t be allowed to give a speech. He intends to visit the Pentagon instead. W/ @maggieNYT @KannoYoungs & @danarubinstein:https://t.co/V6Lm9ZrGj4 via @NYTimes

— Sally Goldenberg (@SallyGold) August 27, 2026

Trump says that’s nonsense. In a lengthy Truth Social post, the president denied that he ever planned to skip Ground Zero because he couldn’t make a speech.

“I never even thought of what Maggot made up,” Trump wrote, arguing that he would actually “love not to speak” because the anniversary should be about “the victims, and their beautiful family members.”

Maggot Hagerman, the Fake Reporter from The Failing New York Times, an unattractive person both inside and out, and who knows less about me than most reporters on the beat (She’s a SCAMMER!), made up a story that on September 11th, I’m not going to the World Trade Center, in New… pic.twitter.com/tCGGtT3wGg

— Commentary Donald J. Trump Truth Social Posts On X (@TrumpTruthOnX) August 28, 2026

Then Trump went directly after Haberman’s favorite journalistic currency: anonymous sources. “If she were ever forced to reveal her ‘sources,’” Trump wrote, “you will find out they either don’t exist, or didn’t say what she reported.”

Trump also called Haberman a “stalker” and “scammer,” attacked her appearance and revived his longstanding grievances over her Russia reporting and Pulitzer Prize.

CNN’s Jake Tapper quickly came to Haberman’s defense. “I’m not going to repost the filth the president wrote about Maggie Haberman,” Tapper wrote on X, before calling her “an amazing journalist.”

“The president’s comments are disgusting and beneath the office,” he added.

I’m not going to repost the filth the president wrote about Maggie Haberman, but suffice it to say she’s a great person, beautiful inside and out, an incredible mom and wife and colleague, and an amazing journalist. The president’s comments are disgusting and beneath the office.

— Jake Tapper 🦅 (@jaketapper) August 28, 2026

CNN independently reported Friday that Trump will attend the Pentagon commemoration instead of Ground Zero, citing two people briefed on the plans.

CNN claimed that Trump’s desire to deliver remarks was indeed part of the decision, with sources saying early plans had included Trump attending the New York ceremony before the venue’s no-politician-speeches policy became an issue.

The White House, meanwhile, has confirmed the destination without embracing that explanation. Asked Friday why he would not be in New York, Trump answered simply: “Because I’m going to the Pentagon.”

Vice President JD Vance is expected to represent the administration at Ground Zero.

MY QUICK TAKE

I’m old-fashioned. If four anonymous people say Trump desperately wanted a microphone and Trump says he never asked for one, I’d like to hear from somebody with a name.

As for Jake Tapper rushing in to certify Maggie Haberman as beautiful inside and out — lovely.

Now about those sources.

DBS WIRE SOURCES