Trump to reporter: you’re 2nd-rate never listen; saluting Flag, Signing hats, 2nd phase sanctions

The video captures multiple Trump moments. Trump took his family to the US Open Tennis men’s final at Arthur Ashe Stadium in New York City, drawing cheers as he entered, saluting the American flag during The Star-Spangled Banner, and signing hats for fans in a viral “coolest boss” moment. Trump dismantled Yamiche Alcindor for asking if he was “going to war with Chicago” — Trump’s response: “You’re second-rate. You never listen. We’re not going to war. We’re going to clean up our cities so they don’t kill five people every weekend. That’s not war. That’s common sense.” Trump gave non-committal answers on whether he’s considering attacking cartels inside Venezuela (“Well, you’re going to find out”) and confirmed he’s ready to move to the second phase of sanctions against Russia. Trump praised HHS Secretary RFK Jr., saying Kennedy has “a lot of ideas” while “normal people, regular people, easy to get along with people” wouldn’t come up with the answers — connecting Kennedy’s unconventional thinking to progress on autism and other health issues. Trump to Alcindor: “You never listen. That’s why you’re second-rate. We’re not going to war. We’re going to clean up our cities… so they don’t kill five people every weekend. That’s not war. That’s common sense.” Trump on Russia: “Yeah, I am” (ready for phase two sanctions). Trump on Kennedy: “He’s got a lot of good ideas, but he’s got a lot of ideas. You know, normally they don’t have any ideas and that’s why we have problems with autism and some of the other things.”

US Open Tennis

Trump attended the 2025 US Open Tennis men’s final at Arthur Ashe Stadium, Flushing Meadows, New York City.

“POTUS Trump takes his seat at the US Open Tennis men’s final.”

Trump’s tennis attendance:

Arthur Ashe Stadium — premier tennis venue
Men’s final — championship match
High-profile seating with family
Presidential detail and security
Public visibility and engagement

Cheers at Entry

“Cheers from the audience as President Donald J. Trump enters Arthur Ashe Stadium for the US Open Tennis.”

The reception — cheers from tennis audience. The US Open audience reflects New York demographics, which in 2025-2026 had shifted toward Trump support:

Working class New Yorkers concerned about crime, economy
Immigration concerns
Cost of living issues
Trump’s New York roots reinforcing local connection

The cheers signal political reception — New York City increasingly friendly to Trump despite NYC’s historical Democratic dominance.

Saluting the Flag

“President Donald J. Trump is shown saluting our Great American Flag during The Star Spangled-Banner at the US Open Tennis.”

Trump saluting during the national anthem — standard presidential conduct demonstrating American patriotism. The image resonates with Trump’s base — presidential respect for flag and anthem aligned with broader cultural framework about patriotism.

The contrast implicit:

Some athletes have knelt during anthem
Some political figures have not saluted
Trump’s conduct models traditional American ceremony
Resonates with cultural conservatism

Signing Hats

“The People’s President and the coolest boss ever. Signing hats for fans at the US Open.”

Trump interacting with fans in the stands:

Signed “Make America Great Again” or similar hats
Personal engagement with supporters
Accessible presidency
Viral social media content

The “coolest boss” framework — Trump’s casual engagement generating positive social media. Unusual for sitting presidents to engage this directly at public events.

”Second-Rate” Reporter

The video pivoted to Trump’s confrontation with reporter Yamiche Alcindor.

The question from Alcindor (paraphrased from context): Was Trump going to war with Chicago (referencing federal crime intervention)?

Trump’s response: “You never listen. That’s why you’re second-rate.”

Trump’s characterization of Alcindor:

Not listening
Second-rate professional
Missing substantive content
Reliant on narrative framing

“You’re not going to war. We’re going to clean up our cities.”

Trump reframing — this is not military war but civic cleanup.

“We’re going to clean them up so they don’t kill five people every weekend.”

The stark reality:

Chicago experiences multiple murders most weekends
“Five people every weekend” understates sometimes (some weekends 10-20)
Crime as genuine crisis requiring response
Federal intervention legitimate response to emergency

“That’s not war. That’s common sense.”

Trump’s framework — intervention to stop weekend murders is common sense, not warfare. The rhetorical question of what else could be called “common sense.”

Venezuela Cartels

A reporter asked about potential Venezuela operations.

“Are you considering attacking the car shells inside of Venezuela?”

“Cartels” (transcription artifact “car shells”) — whether Trump would pursue drug cartels inside Venezuela. Context:

Venezuelan Tren de Aragua designated terrorist organization
Drug boat strikes in international waters
Narco-terrorist funding Maduro regime
Cross-border implications

Trump’s response: “Well, you’re going to find out.”

Strategic ambiguity:

Not confirming
Not denying
Threat preserved
Policy unpredictability

Russia Sanctions Phase Two

“Are you ready to move to the second phase of sanctions against Russia?”

The reporter asking about escalated Russia sanctions.

“Yeah, I am.”

Trump’s direct confirmation:

Phase two ready
Signal to Moscow
Pressure on Putin
Coordinated with ongoing negotiations

Phase two sanctions framework:

Additional financial sanctions
Secondary sanctions expansion
Sectoral sanctions
Asset freezes broader
Diplomatic measures

Kennedy Framework

Trump’s comments on HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

“Well, he’s a different kind of a guy. He’s got a lot of good ideas, but he’s got a lot of ideas.”

The framework — Kennedy as unconventional but productive. “Different kind of guy” captures Kennedy’s independent approach.

“You know, normally they don’t have any ideas and that’s why we have problems with autism and some of the other things.”

Trump’s implicit critique — traditional HHS leadership lacks creative thinking. Autism and other chronic conditions haven’t been addressed because of conventional bureaucratic thinking.

“Because we’re coming up with the answers for autism. You watch.”

Trump’s prediction — Kennedy’s HHS will produce autism answers. Kennedy’s long focus on environmental causes, dietary factors, and pharmaceutical safety may produce insights missed by conventional research.

“We’re coming up with the answers for other things that normal people, regular people, easy to get along with people wouldn’t be able to do.”

Trump’s framework:

Normal, conventional thinking produces conventional results
Creative, unconventional thinking required for breakthroughs
Kennedy’s “difficult” personality connected to his “different” thinking
Results justify unconventional approach

“He’s got a lot of ideas and so do I. We’re going to clean them up.”

Trump connecting his own unconventional approach to Kennedy’s. Both embrace different thinking.

Trump’s New York Engagement

Trump’s return to New York for major public events:

US Open Tennis
Various Trump Tower appearances
Potential Madison Square Garden events
Trump Organization business

Despite being President and based in Washington, Trump’s New York connections continue through personal visits and business activities.

Cultural Reset

Trump’s US Open attendance represented cultural moment:

Presidential engagement with sports
New York audience favorable
Public visibility
Family engagement
Flag-saluting imagery

The contrast with some Democratic figures:

Obama often respected but polarizing
Biden rarely at sporting events
Harris campaign events contrived
Trump natural in public settings

Significance

The video captured Trump’s multi-dimensional presidency:

Cultural engagement — sporting events, fan interaction
Press management — aggressive responses to hostile questions
Foreign policy — Venezuela ambiguity, Russia sanctions
Domestic policy — Chicago federal framework
Personnel praise — Kennedy’s unconventional approach

The Alcindor moment — “second-rate” dismissal — captures Trump’s continued hostility toward unfriendly press but also his accessibility to engage them at all. Many political figures simply refuse such questions; Trump engages combatively.

The US Open moments humanized Trump — hat-signing, flag-saluting, family presence — in ways that contrast with more formal presidential imagery. The “coolest boss” framing captures the appeal.

Trump’s unconventional leadership framework — embracing Kennedy’s “different” approach, promising autism breakthroughs, pursuing Chicago intervention — connects to the broader Trump second-term narrative of doing what conventional leaders wouldn’t do.

Key Takeaways

Trump to Alcindor: “You never listen. That’s why you’re second-rate. We’re not going to war. We’re going to clean up our cities… so they don’t kill five people every weekend. That’s not war. That’s common sense.”
Trump on Venezuela cartels: “Well, you’re going to find out.”
Trump on Russia sanctions phase two: “Yeah, I am.”
Trump on Kennedy: “He’s got a lot of ideas. Normally, they don’t have any ideas and that’s why we have problems with autism and some of the other things… We’re coming up with the answers for autism. You watch.”
Trump at US Open: Saluted the flag during The Star-Spangled Banner, signed hats for fans in “coolest boss” moment, and drew cheers entering Arthur Ashe Stadium for the men’s final.