White House Defends President Trump's 'Piggy' Remark to Reporter

During a press briefing on Thursday, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt defended President Donald Trump's recent remark referring to Bloomberg News correspondent Catherine Lucey as 'piggy.' Leavitt stated that the president's frankness and transparency are among the reasons for his re-election, emphasizing his commitment to addressing 'fake news' and providing the press with unprecedented access.

The incident occurred aboard Air Force One on Friday when Lucey questioned President Trump about the Jeffrey Epstein scandal and the potential release of related files. As she began to ask, 'If there's nothing incriminating in the files, sir, why not—,' the president interrupted, pointing at her and saying, 'Quiet. Quiet, piggy.'

The remark has drawn widespread criticism from journalists and media organizations. CNN anchor Jake Tapper described the comment as 'disgusting and completely unacceptable,' while former Fox News anchor Gretchen Carlson called it 'disgusting and degrading.' The Society of Professional Journalists issued a statement condemning the president's remarks, highlighting a pattern of hostility toward the press that undermines the essential role of a free and independent media.

This incident is part of a series of contentious interactions between President Trump and female reporters. On Tuesday, during a meeting with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the president called ABC News reporter Mary Bruce 'a terrible person' after she questioned him about the killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi and the release of Epstein files.