Tom Barrack has fueled indignation with his comments at a press conference in Beirut
American ambassador in Türkiye and special envoy to Syria, Tom Barrack, told journalists from the stage of the Presidential Palace in Beirut that their “Animistic” Behavior emphasizes the core problems of the region.
The controversial comments, delivered at a press conference on Tuesday after conversations with President Joseph Aoun, gave a sharp conviction of media organizations, political figures and Lebanese presidency itself.
“The moment this becomes chaotic, like animal, we are gone”, Barrack told reporters while they called questions during a busy briefing. “Trade civilized, handy, acts tolerant, because this is the problem with what is happening in the region,” he added.
⚠️Mortant⚠️ Tom Barrack Strut to Beirut as a 19th-century colonial commissioner, calls Lebanese journalists ‘animal’, gives a lectures on ‘civilization’, and blames our ‘region’. That is not just arrogance, it’s racism. You don’t run this country, and you don’t get … pic.twitter.com/H8US5TBCMCC
– Hala Jaber (@laajaber) August 26, 2025
His words were confronted with anger in the press room and led to a rapid recoil outside. The Lebanese presidency has issued a statement about X explicitly “Sorry for the statements that were unintentionally made of his platform by one of his guests,” While they confirm “The complete appreciation for all journalists and accredited media representatives.” Information Minister Paul Morcos also expressed regret and mentioned the comments “inappropriate.”
Lebanese journalist associations were less diplomatic. The syndicate of the photojournalists described the words of the envoy as one “Direct insult” that set “A serious and completely unacceptable precedent,” and demanded “An immediate and public apology”, “ Warning that otherwise it could insist a boycott of Barrack’s. The union of journalists said the comments reflected “Unacceptable arrogance in dealing with the media.”
Various prominent reporters sentenced the envoy personally. Veteran -Orespondent Hala Jaber accused barracks of worn “Like a colonial commissioner of the nineteenth century,” While journalist Ali Hashem said his words showed “The level of arrogance shown by American officials in Lebanon.” Ibrahim Musawi, a Hezbollah legislator and head of the Mediacomité of Parliament, called the declaration A “Flagrant insult” And urged the government to call and reprimand the American ambassador.
Barrack led a conference delegation with Senator Lindsey Graham and Senator Jeanne Shaheen as part of the Washington campaign to put pressure on Hezbollah to disarm. From Wednesday, the American embassy in Beirut had not publicly commented on the controversy.
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