Fact Check: CNBC's Megan Cassella did not tell President Trump he is 'Not God' during press briefing; she is on maternity leave

There is no proof that CNBC reporter Megan Cassella told President Trump, "Sir, you are the president, not God," at any press briefing. No news outlets have reported this quote, and it does not appear on CNBCs official website.

Megan Cassella has been on maternity leave since September 19, 2025, according to her post on X. This makes it highly unlikely that she attended any recent press briefings.

The quote went viral through a Facebook image posted on December 5, 2025, which claimed she delivered the lines in response to Trump. The image suggested she told Trump, "Sir, you are the president, not God," and added, "Mr. President, I ask questions, not permission." However, no credible sources confirm this exchange.

A search on Google News and CNBCs website for the phrase "Sir, you are the president, not God" returned no results, indicating that such an incident did not occur publicly.

On September 19, 2025, Cassella announced on X that she would be on maternity leave until 2026, stating:
"Signing off today for maternity leave feeling very grateful to be able to dedicate the next few months to figuring out how to raise a baby. It'll be a very different type of craziness for me for the next little bit. See you in 2026!"

Lead Stories reached out to Cassella for comment and will provide updates if a response is received.

Author: Sophia Brooks