Lebanese journalists and press unions demanded an apology from U.S. ambassador to Turkey and special envoy to Syria Tom Barrack after he described reporters at a Beirut news conference as “animalistic.”

Barrack, a real estate investor of Lebanese descent and longtime Trump ally, made the remarks Tuesday at Baabda Presidential Palace after meeting Lebanon’s President Michel Aoun to discuss disarming Hezbollah.

During the press conference, he told journalists, who shouted their questions: “The moment that this starts becoming chaotic, like animalistic — we’re gone. Act civilized, act kind, act tolerant, because this is the problem with what’s happening in the region.”

US Special Envoy Tom Barrack told Lebanese journalists to “act civilised,” labeling them “animalistic” and claiming this reflects the broader problems in the Middle East, during his visit to Beirut, Lebanon, on August 26 pic.twitter.com/ayGUqmJ2sw

— TRT World (@trtworld) August 26, 2025

In a statement, the Union of Journalists in Lebanon said it strongly condemns the “insulting remarks” made by the U.S. ambassador. The union added that Barrack’s words “reflect a deep-seated colonial superiority toward the peoples of the region and constitute a blatant violation of the most basic principles of diplomatic etiquette.”

It called on Barrack to issue an “official and public apology” and urged the U.S. Embassy in Beirut to take a clear stance on what it described as unacceptable behavior.

The Editors’ Syndicate also demanded “a public statement of apology” and suggested boycotting the envoy’s future visits and meetings.

In a statement on X, the Lebanese presidency expressed regret over the “remarks made inadvertently from its podium by one of its guests,” while affirming its respect for journalists and media representatives.

Neither Barrack, nor the U.S. Embassy in Beirut commented on the controversy.