Trump Sparks Outrage After Calling Woman Journalist “Piggy”
A routine press interaction aboard Air Force One turned into a political flashpoint after US President Donald Trump told a woman journalist, “Quiet. Quiet, piggy,” during a media gaggle.
The remark, aimed at Bloomberg reporter Catherine Lucey, quickly went viral and drew widespread criticism from news organisations, politicians, and fellow journalists.
Trump, a literal pig, at a reporter on AF1: “quiet piggy” pic.twitter.com/ml4oLbWn2o
— The Lincoln Project (@ProjectLincoln) November 18, 2025
The incident took place last Friday when Lucey attempted to ask Trump about the growing controversy around the Jeffrey Epstein files and whether he would support a House vote to release them.
As she began her question, Trump cut her off, pointed toward her, and made the “piggy” comment — prompting a stunned silence in the press cabin.
The clip spread rapidly across social media. CNN anchor Jake Tapper called the remark “disgusting,” while former Fox News host Gretchen Carlson said it was “degrading,” recalling her own experiences with sexist insults earlier in her career.
Also, read| Meet Zohran Mamdani, Who Made History Winning New York Mayoral Election
California Governor Gavin Newsom, who frequently challenges Trump online, also joined in, mocking the President’s outburst on social media.
The White House, however, defended Trump, claiming the reporter had behaved “in an inappropriate and unprofessional way” toward others on the plane. Bloomberg News later released a statement supporting Lucey and reaffirming the importance of its White House team’s work.
This is not the first time Trump has clashed with women journalists. In an earlier meeting with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Trump snapped at ABC News correspondent Mary Bruce when she asked about the murder of Jamal Khashoggi.
Also, read| Trump Meets Japan’s PM Takaichi; Protesters Call It Anti-China
He told her she was “embarrassing” their guest and dismissed her questions as “ABC fake news. One of the worst in the business.”
Later, when Bruce questioned him again, this time about the Epstein files, Trump grew visibly irritated. “It’s your attitude,” he told her. “I think you are a terrible reporter.” He insisted he had “nothing to do with Epstein,” labelled the controversy a “hoax,” and even accused ABC of being “one of the perpetrators.”
