WASHINGTON, Sept. 28, 2026 — President Donald Trump redirected a White House exchange about the conflict in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo on Monday, asking Angolan journalist Hariana Verás about the country’s Ebola outbreak instead of addressing her accusation against Rwanda.
Verás said she had recently visited the DRC and alleged Rwanda. Trump replied, “How is Ebola going?” Some observers viewed the change of subject as a refusal to accept her account at face value, although Trump did not explain why he raised Ebola. But the experts we interviewed over the phone said that probably President Trump didn’t want to be manipulated by anyone who has been biased towards the other side because of her affiliation.
Verás’s question did not address allegations of hate speech and violence against Congolese Tutsi or calls for accountability from the government in Kinshasa. Those concerns deserve serious examination alongside other claims about the conflict. Corruption is also a significant issue in the DRC: Transparency International ranked the country 163rd out of 182 countries and territories in its 2025 Corruption Perceptions Index. The ranking reflects perceptions of public sector corruption; it does not establish wrongdoing by Verás or any particular official.
Verás has previously interviewed President Félix Tshisekedi in Kinshasa. Critics have questioned whether her reporting reflects his government’s position, but her access to the president does not establish that Kinshasa paid or directed her.
Critics on social media have also called for more thorough reporting on the experiences of affected civilians. Professional journalism requires reporters to verify claims and disclose relevant conflicts of interest. Coverage of eastern Congo should serve the public interest and remain free from political pressure, special interests and personal gain.
