Donald Trump has faced widespread criticism after referring to a Bloomberg News correspondent as a 'piggy' during a press interaction on Air Force One. The remark, made on Friday, gained traction on Tuesday, drawing backlash from journalists and commentators.
The incident occurred when Catherine Lucey, Bloomberg's White House correspondent, asked Trump about the Jeffrey Epstein scandal and the potential release of related files. As she pressed her question, Trump pointed at her and said, 'Quiet. Quiet, piggy.'
CBS News reporter Jennifer Jacobs first reported the comment. CNN's Jake Tapper called it 'disgusting and completely unacceptable,' while former Fox News anchor Gretchen Carlson described it as 'disgusting and degrading.'
A Bloomberg News spokesperson defended Lucey, stating, 'Our White House journalists perform a vital public service, asking questions without fear or favor.' The White House Correspondents' Association did not respond to requests for comment.
April Ryan, a veteran White House correspondent previously targeted by Trump, said the attack was beneath the presidency. 'The president of the United States is supposed to be the moral leader... and he's acting like some thug on the street,' she told the Guardian.
Elisa Lees Muñoz of the International Women's Media Foundation noted that Trump's 'piggy' remark is part of a pattern of 'gendered attacks meant to shut women journalists up.' The White House, when asked for comment, blamed Lucey for behaving 'inappropriately,' but provided no evidence.
