A prominent Republican Congresswoman has sparked controversy by defending former President Donald Trump after he told a Bloomberg journalist to be "quiet, piggy".
The Defence and the 'Picturesque' Remark
Representative María Elvira Salazar appeared on CNN's The Lead with host Jake Tapper on Tuesday, 18 November 2025. During the interview, she addressed the incident, describing Trump's demeanour as "picturesque" while he scolded the reporter.
Salazar conceded that the former president could be a "difficult" politician, but insisted she focused on his policies, not his personality. "No one is perfect," she stated. "Those who are perfect are in heaven."
The Confrontation and its Aftermath
The altercation occurred when Bloomberg reporter Catherine Lucey pressed Trump on his relationship with the deceased sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Trump claimed to have had a "very bad relationship" with Epstein.
When Lucey attempted to ask a follow-up question, Trump raised a finger and, using a cartoonish voice, told her to be "quiet, quiet piggy" before leaning towards her. He then swiftly moved on to boast about his plans for US-Venezuela tensions, though he refused to provide any details.
In an official response to the criticism, a White House correspondent for MS Now, Vaughn Hillyard, dismissed the controversy on social media, suggesting the reporter had behaved unprofessionally.
A Pattern of Behaviour and Widespread Condemnation
The incident has drawn sharp criticism from various figures, highlighting what many see as a pattern of denigrating female journalists.
California Governor Gavin Newsom posted memes in retaliation, while former Fox News host Gretchen Carlson labelled the remarks "disgusting and degrading." CNN's Jake Tapper called the behaviour "disgusting and completely unacceptable."
This is not an isolated event. A recent feature in The Atlantic detailed Trump's long history of such comments, including his infamous remark about Megyn Kelly where he said, "There was blood coming out of her eyes, blood coming out of her wherever."
Furthermore, former Miss Universe Alicia Machado has accused him of calling her "Miss Piggy," and White House correspondent April Ryan stated a Trump official used the same slur against her in 2018.
Bloomberg, Lucey's employer, issued a statement standing by their journalist, affirming that their White House team "perform a vital public service, asking questions without fear or favor."
The controversy unfolded amid other tensions, including a separate clash with ABC News correspondent Mary Bruce during a meeting with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman.
