Trump brands Greta Thunberg a 'trouble-maker' with an 'anger management problem' and urges she see a doctor after deportation from Israel
Donald Trump attacked Greta Thunberg at a White House press conference, calling her a 'trouble-maker' and claiming she has an 'anger management problem' that she should see a doctor for. The remark came after Thunberg and 170 other activists were deported from Israel following a bid to bring humanitarian aid into Gaza as part of the Global Sumud Flotilla. The moment adds a dramatic edge to a confrontation that has long framed climate activism within a broader geopolitical crisis.
In This Article:
A bold protest at sea: The Global Sumud Flotilla and the Gaza aid attempt
Thunberg was among 171 flotilla activists detained by Israeli forces and later released on Monday after the navy foiled the bid to breach the Gaza blockade. The episode followed a prior detention at sea in June during a similar attempt. The activists aimed to draw international attention to Gaza’s humanitarian crisis, with Thunberg arriving in Athens to greet supporters as the group reflected on the outcome of their mission.
Thunberg fires back: Instagram mockery and a grim warning about Gaza
Thunberg responded to Trump with a biting Instagram post, quipping about his concerns for her mental health. She wrote: 'I heard Donald Trump once again has expressed his very flattering opinions on my character, and I appreciate his concerns for my mental health.' She added: 'To Trump: I would kindly receive any recommendations you might have to deal with these so called 'anger management problems' since, judging by your impressive track record, you seem to be suffering from them too.' Earlier in Athens, she told reporters there is a genocide going on and that international systems are betraying Palestinians by failing to prevent war crimes. She said the flotilla was meant to step up when governments failed to meet their legal obligations.
The broader controversy: mistreatment claims, denials, and the Gaza toll
Swiss and Spanish activists alleged harsh detention experiences, including sleep deprivation, lack of water and food, and reports of being beaten or kept in cages. Israeli authorities rejected the mistreatment claims, saying detainees’ legal rights were upheld and that the only violence involved a detainee who bit a medic. Israel’s foreign ministry described such allegations as ‘complete lies.’ Gaza’s health ministry says more than 66,000 Palestinians have been killed and about 170,000 wounded in the war, with women and children making up about half of the dead. The backdrop is Hamas’s Oct. 7, 2023 attack on Israel and the ongoing conflict that followed.
What this moment means: activism, media, and the struggle for humanitarian access
This episode reveals how climate activism, international diplomacy, and media narratives collide in real time. The deportation and the viral clash between Trump and Thunberg underscore the fragility of humanitarian access in a crowded, volatile region—and remind readers that speaking truth to power often comes with personal and political risks. The story invites reflection on accountability, the role of protest in shaping policy, and what it means to demand action when governments fall short.
