Trump Slams Fox News Host as “Milquetoast” Over ICE Claim
Former President Donald Trump sparked another media controversy on June 26, 2026 when he posted a lengthy comment on his Truth Social account targeting Fox News anchor Shannon Bream. The post began with Trump acknowledging that he was “not necessarily thrilled to be talking about” the subject because it did not "exactly sound NICE," a reference to his recurring request that the agency Immigration and Customs Enforcement be called "NICE" to force journalists to use the term.
Trump then asserted that his administration held "the Highest Average Daily Arrest Rate" by ICE and Customs and Border Protection, surpassing all previous presidents "by far." He added that his administration achieved "the Highest 12‑Month Removal Total, by far, of any president" and claimed a record "Average Daily Catch and Repatriation." He emphasized that "No other president comes close," before turning his focus to Bream.
In a direct jab, Trump accused Bream of being "milquetoast" – a term meaning timid or meek – but misspelled it as "Milk Toast," a homonym that describes a bland snack of toasted bread in warm milk. The error drew additional attention, with Reuters noting that the word refers to a 19th‑century comfort food often given to children or those with weak stomachs.
Trump’s criticism framed Bream’s reporting of ICE statistics as insufficiently supportive of his administration’s immigration stance. He suggested that any attempt to compare his numbers to those of previous presidents should be met with "a little fight" from journalists like Bream. The post concluded with a call for opponents – labeled "Anchors, Pundits, Dumocrats, and Communists" – to acknowledge the disparities he claims exist between his record and that of his predecessors.
The incident follows earlier reports that Bream had highlighted comparable ICE deportation numbers between Trump’s term and President Barack Obama’s tenure. Trump’s response underscores his pattern of publicly confronting media personalities who question his immigration figures, a tactic he has used throughout his political career.
While Trump’s claims about ICE arrest rates and removal totals are part of his broader narrative that emphasizes a tough stance on illegal immigration, the factual accuracy of those statements remains contested. Independent analyses have shown that the Obama administration removed roughly three million people over eight years, whereas Trump’s first term saw about 1.2 million removals. Trump’s commentary, however, continues to shape public discourse as he positions himself for the upcoming 2026 political cycle.
