Moment Trump stunningly admits he can’t ‘understand a word’ from foreign reporter at press conference

By GEOFF EARLE, DEPUTY U.S. POLITICAL EDITOR

Published: 00:43 GMT, 14 February 2025 | Updated: 00:52 GMT, 14 February 2025

President Donald Trump’s press conference with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi got off to an awkward start when the president said he couldn’t understand ‘a word’ of what an accented reporter asked him.

The comment came as Trump stood side by side in the East Room of the White House with Modi, who he enjoyed warm relations with during his first term. Trump called Modi ‘my friend’ and ‘a very special man.’

Then Trump called on a U.S.-based Indian journalist. The question was about the extradition of Tahawwur Rana, accused of taking part in the 2008 Mumbai attack. Trump called him a ‘very violent man.’

The problem is Trump said he couldn’t understand the question at all.

‘You’ve got to go louder,’ Trump, 78, said at first, making a quizzical expression upon hearing it.

‘I can’t understand a word he’s saying. It’s the accent. It’s a little bit tough for me,’ Trump said, quickly moving on amid some chuckles in the room.

President Donald Trump called on a U.S.-based Indian reporter and said he couldn’t understand ‘a word’ he said in his question

It was a flashback to earlier this month, when Trump told an Afghan reporter she had a ‘beautiful voice’ but told her ‘I can’t understand a word you’re saying.’

Both comments come at a time when Trump’s administration is organizing ‘mass deportations’ and pressing other countries including India to take back their citizens when they are caught here without legal documentation. 

It was the second moment that drew laughs in the traditional two-and-two presidential news conference – although it didn’t break major news since it was Trump’s fourth public event of the day. 

Earlier, Trump said he ‘trusts’ Vladimir Putin and signed an order to slap ‘reciprocal tariffs’ on countries around the globe.d

Moving to ingratiate himself with Trump, Modi spoke of the ‘deep mutual trust that we share’ and called to ‘Make India Great Again, or MIGA,’ earning chuckles.

Then he said if you combine MIGA and Maga, ‘it becomes mega.’ 

Modi, meanwhile, gave an answer in step with Trump’s push to get people who entered the U.S. illegally out of the country. 

‘We are of the opinion that anybody who enters another country illegally has absolutely no right to be in that country,’ Modi said. He added that ‘we are fully prepared to take them back’ if they are found to be from his country. 

Trump took questions after meetings with Indian PM Narendra Modi

Trump took multiple questions at the press conference, but couldn’t understand one about extraditing a man accused of taking part in the Mumbai terror attack to India

Trump got another Russia question, and was asked about various statements form himself and his administration that could undercut Ukraine in talks, including statements from Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth that Ukraine may have to give up territory and its dim prospects of joining NATO.

What, Trump was asked, should Russia to give up? 

Trump didn’t answer directly, saying Ukraine ‘lost nothing’ during his first term, and stated Russia’s position, which they stated ‘very strongly’ that Ukraine couldn’t be in NATO.  

‘Russia has gotten themselves into something that I think they wish they didn’t,’ Trump said. ‘I want that bloodshed to stop.’

Trump also got asked about his statements Thursday on meeting with Putin and China’s President Xi Jinping, and European critics who say he spends more effort cultivating adversaries than allies.

Trump instead brought criticism on the EU and NATO. ‘You have to pay more money because it’s unfair,’ he said. 

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Moment Trump stunningly admits he can’t ‘understand a word’ from foreign reporter at press conference

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