VIDEO: US envoy Thomas Barrack sparks uproar after calling Lebanese press “animals”

A press conference in Beirut erupted in controversy after US Special Envoy Tom Barrack admonished Lebanese journalists, urging them to act “civilized” rather than “animalistic.”

Barrack, joined by deputy envoy Morgan Ortagus, was in Lebanon as part of Washington’s push to pressure Hezbollah into disarming. The tension surfaced during a media briefing when multiple reporters posed questions at once, prompting Barrack’s rebuke.

“Please, be quiet for a moment. And I want to tell you something. The moment this starts turning into chaos, like animals, we will disappear. So you want to know what’s happening? Behave in a civilized manner, be friendly, patient, because that is precisely the problem of what is happening in the region,” Barrack told the room.

He continued, visibly frustrated, “Do you think this is funny for us? Do you think that Morgan Ortagus and I enjoy enduring this ridiculous madness here?”

Barrack, who has Lebanese roots and also serves as US ambassador to Turkey and special envoy to Syria, leads the American delegation visiting Beirut. The team includes Republican Senator Lindsey Graham, Democratic Senator Jeanne Shaheen, Congressman Joe Wilson, and Ortagus.

- Backlash ensues -

The remarks triggered strong reactions from Lebanese journalists. Hala Jaber, a veteran correspondent, accused Barrack of crossing a line, “Tom Barrack bursts into Beirut like a nineteenth-century colonial commissioner, calling Lebanese journalists ‘animalistic,’ delivering a lecture on ‘civilization’ and translating all of this to our ‘region.’ This is not merely arrogance, it’s racism. You are not running this country, and you have no right to insult its people.”

IMPORTANT Tom Barrack struts into Beirut like a 19th-century colonial commissioner, calls Lebanese journalists ‘animalistic,’ lectures us on ‘civilisation,’ & blames it all on our ‘region.’ That’s not just arrogance, it’s racism. You don’t run this country, & you don’t get to… pic.twitter.com/h8uS5TBCMC

— Hala Jaber (@HalaJaber) August 26, 2025

Another journalist, Ali Hashem, echoed the criticism, calling the envoy’s words “an insult” and adding, “The level of arrogance displayed by US officials in Lebanon demeans the country.”

In response to the uproar, the Lebanese presidency issued a statement on X, saying, “The Presidency of the Republic expresses regret for the statements inadvertently made from its platform by one of its guests today."

"While emphasizing its absolute respect for the dignity of the human person in general," the statement continued. "It wishes to reaffirm its full appreciation for all journalists and accredited media representatives in particular, and extends to them its highest regards for their efforts and dedication in fulfilling their professional and national duties.”

تأسف رئاسة الجمهورية للكلام الذي صدر عفواً عن منبرها من قبل احد ضيوفها اليوم
وهي إذ تشدد على احترامها المطلق لكرامة الشخص الإنساني بشكل عام،
يهمها ان تجدد تقديرها الكامل لجميع الصحفيين والمندوبين الإعلاميين المعتمدين لديها بشكل خاص، وتوجه اليهم كل التحية على جهودهم وتعبهم لأداء…

— Lebanese Presidency (@LBpresidency) August 26, 2025

Here are more online reactions:

The arrogance of U.S. officials in Lebanon is beyond humiliating.

Tom Barrack went as far as warning Lebanese journalists not to be “animalistic” and urged them to “civilize”—claiming this is the problem with the region.

This is not diplomacy. It’s colonial condescension. pic.twitter.com/vv7apMl9ec

— Kevork Almassian (@KevorkAlmassian) August 26, 2025

Tom Barrack came to Beirut, called us “animalistic,” & lectured on “civilisation.” That’s not diplomacy — that’s racism.  pic.twitter.com/8SIkCjV8Ob

— SilencedSirs (@SilentlySirs) August 26, 2025

US Envoy Tom Barrack tells Lebanese journalists to “act civilized, not animalistic,” adding:

“This is the problem with the region.”

In my humble opinion, the only people who are not civilized and who are acting animalistic are those who are committing a live-streamed genocide…

— Mosab Abu Toha (@MosabAbuToha) August 26, 2025

JUST IN: TOM BARRACK CALLS LEBANESE JOURNALISTS ‘ANIMALISTIC’ AND TO BE ‘CIVILISED’

Complete disrespect to the Lebanese people. Imagine if he said that to Israelis?pic.twitter.com/yNZoyOYdPi

— Sulaiman Ahmed (@ShaykhSulaiman) August 26, 2025

Tom Barrack’s comments are blatant dehumanization of Lebanese journalists, echoing the same rhetoric used to justify violence in the region. Dismissing them as “uncivilized” mirrors how Western powers normalize oppression and cover for atrocities.

— Elder Speech (@elderspeech) August 26, 2025

Tom Barrack call Lebanese journalists animals. This is how American and Israelis see the people in the region. pic.twitter.com/GBc1bGSKCM

— Abu Monzur (@AbuMonzur) August 26, 2025

Thomas Barrack, calling Lebanese journalists "animals" shows your true colors. Raised in the cesspool of U.S. imperialist politics, your insults only reflect your own nature, not Lebanon's resilient people! #LebanonStrong #TomBarrack pic.twitter.com/u0ey0Ezwrz

— دکتر جواد رضازاده (@J_Rezazadeh) August 26, 2025