# Calling Trump stupid to his face **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Tags:** trump\ **Created:** [November 4, 2026, 11:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/calling-trump-stupid-to-his-face/1034446 "2026-11-04T23:20:22Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Lucas\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lucas_jackson/32/303_2.png) [@Lucas\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lucas_Jackson)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2026, 11:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/calling-trump-stupid-to-his-face/1034446/1 "2026-11-04T23:20:22Z")
(I was going to put this in MPSIMS (since it’s pretty mundane), but I was afraid it would venture too close to Ed’s ‘hot-button issues falling prey to hijacks’ warning) Anyhoo, I’m sure we’ve all seen [Trump calling reporters and interviewers “stupid”.](https://www.youtube.com/shorts/OkMy2Bu3Msk) (one of _many_ examples) What would happen to a reporter if they responded, 'No, I’m not but you are a stupid person". I’m sure Trump would try have them banned from future briefings but is there any legal recourse he could take. Is it somehow illegal to call the president ‘stupid’? Treason, sedition, subversion, lèse-majesté ? ---
**Author:** ![Q.Q.Switcheroo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/q.q.switcheroo/32/5713_2.png) [@Q.Q.Switcheroo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.Q.Switcheroo)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2026, 11:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/calling-trump-stupid-to-his-face/1034446/2 "2026-11-04T23:55:41Z")
[People don’t like it when you call them stupid.](https://theonion.com/people-dont-like-it-when-you-call-them-stupid-1819583684/) ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2026, 12:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/calling-trump-stupid-to-his-face/1034446/3 "2026-11-05T00:35:31Z")
I suspect that anyone who tried something like this would face harassment and threats, including to their family. So I’d recommend only doing it if you’re looking forward to going into hiding. ---
**Author:** ![John\_DiFool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_difool/32/19543_2.png) [@John\_DiFool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_DiFool)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2026, 12:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/calling-trump-stupid-to-his-face/1034446/4 "2026-11-05T00:53:01Z")
To call him stupid would be an insult to stupid people. ---
**Author:** ![steatopygia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steatopygia/32/3132_2.png) [@steatopygia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/steatopygia)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2026, 1:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/calling-trump-stupid-to-his-face/1034446/5 "2026-11-05T01:02:57Z")
I personally have told Donald Trump no to his face. I think I told the story here, I’ll try and find it. > [@Gielgud shot me a disapproving look. Encounters with celebrities.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gielgud-shot-me-a-disapproving-look-encounters-with-celebrities/778678/12): > > In 1985 or so I worked in a ski shop at the base of Ajax in Aspen Co. At the time, the building (the Little Nell building) was right at the base of Ajax. It has since been demolished and replaced by the gondola. We had a small locker room with about 20 lockers. The lockers were great because it meant you didn’t have to carry your ski gear around. You could put your boots on and head out the door and be at the lift. Most of the lockers were rented by Aspen celebrities. Jack Nicholson, Martina N… ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2026, 2:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/calling-trump-stupid-to-his-face/1034446/6 "2026-11-05T02:22:27Z")
A reporter who called the President of the United States “Stupid” to his face would likely be fired on the spot. That’s pretty much true for any interview subject. There are certain bounds of professional conduct, as well as a proud tradition of not letting oneself be baited.