President Trump Faces Backlash for 'Piggy' Remark to Female Reporter
President Donald Trump referred to a Bloomberg News correspondent as 'piggy' during a press interaction, drawing criticism from journalists and advocacy groups.
During a press interaction aboard Air Force One on Friday, President Donald Trump referred to a Bloomberg News correspondent as "piggy" when she inquired about the release of Jeffrey Epstein-related files. The incident gained attention on Tuesday, leading to criticism from fellow journalists and advocacy groups.
CBS News reporter Jennifer Jacobs first reported the exchange, noting that Trump told a Bloomberg News reporter, "Quiet, quiet, piggy," after she asked about the Epstein files. CNN anchor Jake Tapper described the remark as "disgusting and completely unacceptable," while former Fox News anchor Gretchen Carlson also called it "disgusting and degrading."
Bloomberg News responded, stating, "Our White House journalists perform a vital public service, asking questions without fear or favor. We remain focused on reporting issues of public interest fairly and accurately."
The White House Correspondents’ Association did not provide a comment on the incident.
This is not the first time President Trump has faced criticism for his remarks toward female journalists. In 2018, during a press conference, he frequently interrupted female reporters, including CBS News' Weijia Jiang, telling her to "please sit down" after she attempted to ask a question about sexual assault allegations. Additionally, in 2018, Trump attacked New York Times reporter Maggie Haberman via Twitter, calling her a "Hillary flunky" and denying her access to him.
The International Women’s Media Foundation (IWMF) has previously called on the White House to be more respectful toward female journalists. Elisa Lees Muñoz, the IWMF’s executive director, stated, "President Trump’s targeting of women journalists is nothing new. His appearance-based insults are gendered attacks meant to shut women journalists up."
A White House official, when asked about the recent incident, claimed the reporter behaved in an "inappropriate and unprofessional way towards her colleagues on the plane," without providing evidence. The official added, "If you’re going to give it, you have to be able to take."
The White House did not respond to further requests for clarification on the reporter's alleged behavior.