White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt defended President Donald Trump’s use of the term ‘piggy’ towards a reporter, describing it as an example of his frankness and honesty. The incident occurred aboard Air Force One after the reporter questioned Trump about his connections to Jeffrey Epstein.
The incident unfolded late Friday night aboard Air Force One, where President Trump was engaging with reporters. Catherine Lucey of Bloomberg News inquired about emails from convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein that referenced Trump. Specifically, she asked what Epstein meant when he wrote that Trump ‘knew about the girls,’ prompting a heated exchange.
Trump responded by denying any knowledge of the matter, stating, ‘I know nothing about that. They would have announced that a long time ago.’ He redirected the conversation to other figures mentioned in the emails, such as former President Bill Clinton and Larry Summers, former president of Harvard University, questioning their associations with Epstein.
As Lucey persisted with her line of questioning, another reporter began to speak, leading Trump to interrupt her by saying, ‘Quiet, piggy.’ This comment quickly garnered attention and criticism from media observers and the public, highlighting the ongoing tensions between the Trump administration and the press.
In a White House press briefing on Thursday, Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt addressed the incident, defending Trump’s behavior as ‘very frank and honest.’ She told journalists, ‘You’ve all seen it yourself. You’ve all experienced it yourselves,’ and argued that this straightforwardness is a key reason why Americans elected Trump.
Leavitt elaborated that Trump frequently ‘calls out fake news’ and expresses frustration when he believes reporters spread misinformation about him or his administration. She contrasted his approach with that of previous administrations, claiming that Trump offers ‘unprecedented access’ to the media and is more respectful by being open to their faces rather than avoiding questions.
Bloomberg News issued a statement in response to the event, affirming their commitment to journalistic integrity. ‘Our White House journalists perform a vital public service, asking questions without fear or favor,’ the statement read. ‘We remain focused on reporting issues of public interest fairly and accurately.’
This episode underscores the volatile relationship between the Trump White House and the news media, with Leavitt’s defense reinforcing the administration’s narrative of battling against what it perceives as biased reporting. The incident may further polarize public opinion on press freedom and presidential conduct.
