President Donald Trump caught White House reporters off guard during high-stakes peace negotiations at his Mar-a-Lago estate on Sunday, asking whether offering them lunch would constitute a “bribe.”
The president met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky at the Florida resort to discuss a comprehensive 20-point proposal aimed at ending nearly four years of conflict between Russia and Ukraine.
During the meeting, which included senior American officials such as Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner, the president turned his attention to the assembled press corps.
Trump told reporters they could sit outside and have some food.
He then posed a provocative question about whether accepting the meal would be considered a bribe that would compromise their ability to write honestly about the proceedings.
The comment drew chuckles from those seated around the long rectangular table.
Trump continued pressing for a response from the journalists.
When one reporter accepted the offer, Trump instructed a staffer to have the chef prepare lunch for the press.
The gesture prompted several people in the room to thank the reporters for their work.
Trump then remarked to his advisors that the gesture should guarantee positive coverage but predicted it would not.
He suggested the stories would only get worse and that reporters would go out of their way to make them more negative.
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The president has maintained a contentious relationship with American media outlets throughout his political career.
He has frequently criticized journalists during press conferences and public appearances.
Previous incidents include Trump calling CBS White House Correspondent Nancy Cordes a stupid person over questions about vetting procedures, the Daily Mail reported.
He also told Bloomberg reporter Catherine Lucey to be quiet after she inquired about Jeffrey Epstein files, Resist the Mainstream previously reported.
Even during Sunday’s peace talks, Trump criticized a reporter’s question about security guarantees in Ukraine.
He called the inquiry stupid and noted that the details of any security agreement had not yet been finalized.
Trump expressed optimism about the peace negotiations, stating that both sides were very close to reaching an agreement on most issues.
He indicated that only one or two thorny matters remained unresolved.
The American proposal includes security guarantees for Ukraine against future Russian aggression.
The plan envisions Ukrainian membership in the European Union and maintaining a peacetime military force of 800,000 troops funded by Western allies.
Zelensky indicated earlier that the proposal was approximately 90 percent complete. However, both leaders acknowledged significant challenges remain regarding difficult territorial questions.
The status of the Donbas region emerged as a particularly contentious issue.
Zelensky emphasized the need to respect Ukrainian law and the territories currently under Ukrainian control.
Trump suggested that some land had already been taken and might be up for grabs in coming months. He praised Ukrainian forces for their bravery and continued resistance while noting that Russia also seeks an end to hostilities, per the Daily Mail.
