President Donald Trump on Friday signed a proclamation requiring companies to pay an annual fee of $100,000 to secure H-1B visas, marking a significant change to the visa program used by U.S. businesses to hire foreign workers.
Following the signing, Trump engaged in a heated exchange with members of the press during a briefing.
Ebony McMorris, who attempted to ask a question without being recognized, drew a sharp rebuke from the president.
“Quiet! You’re really obnoxious!” Trump told McMorris after she repeatedly pressed her question.
When she attempted to continue, Trump repeated, “You’re really obnoxious. I’m not gonna talk to you until I call on you.”
He then moved on to take a question from ABC’s Jon Karl.
Karl asked about Trump’s repeated claims of restoring free speech in the United States.
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“I actually wanna settle this free speech question because you’ve said that you’ve restored free speech in America,” Karl began.
“Is that free speech, including for people who are harshly critical of you for your political opponents – people who say things you don’t like…”
Trump responded by criticizing both Karl and ABC News directly.
“I’ve become immune to it. There’s never been a person that’s had more unfair publicity than me and that’s why your network made me $15 million or $16 million to be exact – George Slopadopoulos and that’s why CBS paid me a lot of money too,” Trump said, referring to former ABC anchor George Stephanopoulos.
The president continued by referencing recent legal action he has taken against media outlets.
“And that’s why I sued the New York Times two days ago for a lot of money – well, I’m winning the cases and the reason why I’m winning is because you’re guilty, Jon!”
He then broadened his criticism to include other major outlets.
“ABC is a terrible network, a very unfair network and you should be ashamed of yourself. NBC is equally bad….and for you to stand there and act so innocent and ask me a question like that but you paid a big price because you were dishonest..”
Trump concluded his remarks to Karl with another direct criticism.
“You’re not a wonderful person. Frankly, you’re a terrible reporter – you know it and so do I,” he said.
JUST IN: President Trump tells reporter to ‘quiet’ down before ripping apart ABC reporter Jonathan Karl.
“Quiet. You’re really obnoxious.”
“You’re not a wonderful person. Frankly, you’re a terrible reporter.” pic.twitter.com/QXUvQipqQY
— Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) September 19, 2025
The proclamation signed earlier in the day establishes the new $100,000 annual fee for each H-1B visa issued to companies seeking to employ foreign workers in specialized fields.
The measure is part of the administration’s broader policy agenda on immigration and labor, which has emphasized tightening requirements for foreign worker programs while encouraging businesses to prioritize American workers.
The White House has not yet released additional details on how the new fees will be implemented or when they will take effect, but the announcement has already prompted strong reactions both from industry groups that rely on H-1B visas and from critics of the visa program.
Friday’s briefing highlighted both the policy shift and the ongoing confrontational relationship between President Trump and members of the press.
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