“The Press Set Off the Fire Alarm for No Reason”: Trump’s Spokesman Blasts Media Over Mar-a-Lago Ambulance Reports
Former President Donald Trump asked a New York judge to set aside his hush money trial conviction. /Seth Wenig Via Reuters
Donald Trump’s spokesman Steven Cheung lashed out at reporters Thursday after emergency vehicles spotted at Mar-a-Lago sparked a brief flurry of speculation. The Independent’s Andrew Feinberg reported the sighting on X, writing, “NOW: Per pool, 2 ambulances and several vans that appeared full of @SecretService have left Mar-a-Lago in the last few minutes.”
Feinberg quickly clarified there was no cause for concern. “CALM DOWN, PEOPLE. Per a transition source and @SecretService, the ambulances were part of Vice President-elect @JDVance’s motorcade. False alarm. Go about your business,” he added in a follow-up post.
Despite the clarification, Cheung responded with fury, accusing Feinberg and other members of the press stationed near Mar-a-Lago of trying to stir unnecessary panic. “The press has set up a fake, unofficial ‘pool’ because they want to feel important about themselves,” Cheung wrote. “In this case, some idiot at CBS overreacted and set off the fire alarm for no reason thinking they were going to get the scoop of a lifetime. F—king dummy”, told Raw Story.
Cheung, who served as a communications specialist for the UFC before joining Trump’s team, is known for his aggressive, often profanity-laden attacks on the media and political adversaries. His latest remarks reflect his ongoing contentious relationship with reporters covering Trump’s post-election activities.
This isn’t the first time Cheung has made headlines for his brash rhetoric. In August, he mocked Vice President Kamala Harris after a campaign event in Wisconsin, writing, “Make sure AF2 is deep cleaned because Lord only knows what [Harris] and her team have done on there. The smell alone on that plane must be crazy.”
In another instance, Cheung fiercely defended Trump after the former president referred to Milwaukee as a “horrible city,” dismissing the media’s coverage of the remark as “total bulls—.” Cheung’s role is set to expand as he takes on the position of White House communications director in Trump’s incoming administration. While his combative style appeals to Trump’s base, it also draws criticism for deepening the divide between the administration and the press.
The Mar-a-Lago ambulance incident, though quickly resolved, is the latest example of the tense and often hostile relationship between Trump’s camp and the media. Cheung’s response underscores the escalating rhetoric as Trump’s transition team prepares to enter a new term.
