President Donald Trump took a personal swipe at a Fox News reporter Wednesday, targeting her relationship with a Republican congressman who has frequently bucked him on key votes.
During an impromptu Q&A with reporters, Trump deflected an unrelated question to jab at Jacqui Heinrich, Fox News' senior White House correspondent and fiancée of Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (R-Pa.). The president referred to Fitzpatrick as Heinrich's husband and complained about the lawmaker's voting record.
“Her husband votes against me all the time. Can you imagine? I don't know what's with him. You better ask him what's with him,” Trump said. “He likes voting against Trump. You know what happens with that. It doesn't work out well.”
The president's remarks carried an implicit threat, coming after he successfully backed primary challengers against several Republican incumbents who defied him. Trump helped oust Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-La.) and Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.), and has pushed a broader purge of GOP critics—a strategy that some warn could hurt the party's midterm prospects.
Fitzpatrick, however, appears less vulnerable. He faced no primary challenger this year and won renomination Tuesday. The suburban Philadelphia district, which Cook Political Report rates as “likely Republican,” backed former Vice President Kamala Harris by 1 point in 2024, but Fitzpatrick won reelection by 13 points the same year, reflecting his unusually strong cross-party appeal.
Fitzpatrick and Massie were the only two House Republicans to vote against Trump's signature tax and spending bill last year. Fitzpatrick initially supported the legislation but opposed the Senate version due to deeper Medicaid cuts. He is co-chair of the bipartisan Problem Solvers Caucus and is considered one of the least partisan members of Congress, voting with Republicans on just 71.9% of party-line votes in 2024—one of only two GOP House members with scores below 80%.
This isn't the first time Trump has targeted Heinrich. He previously posted on Truth Social that she “should be working at CNN, not Fox,” after learning of her role with the White House Correspondents Association. Heinrich, the WHCA vice president and incoming president, has publicly criticized the Trump administration's takeover of the White House press pool.
Neither Fitzpatrick nor Fox News responded to requests for comment. The exchange underscores Trump's ongoing willingness to use his platform to pressure reporters and lawmakers alike, as he continues to consolidate control over the GOP and punish dissent.
