Former President Donald Trump has escalated his attacks on female journalists, resorting to personal insults and threats against media organisations when confronted with questions about his connections to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
Air Force One Confrontation Sparks Controversy
The tension reached new heights aboard Air Force One on Friday, 14th November 2025, when Trump told a Bloomberg reporter to "Quiet. Quiet, piggy" after she questioned why he was behaving erratically if "there's nothing incriminating in the files." This incident occurred during a particularly challenging period for the former president, following what analysts describe as the Republican party's most significant rebuke since Trump established himself as the GOP leader.
The White House attempted to justify the president's language, with an official stating: "This reporter behaved in an inappropriate and unprofessional way towards her colleagues on the plane. If you're going to give it, you have to be able to take." However, when pressed by The Guardian about whether the White House was suggesting the reporter had used the term "piggy" towards colleagues, officials declined to respond.
Epstein Questions Trigger Presidential Fury
Trump's outbursts coincide with mounting pressure regarding his association with Epstein, with whom he maintained a close friendship for over a decade. The situation became particularly acute when up to 100 House Republicans were expected to defy Trump by voting to release the Epstein files, forcing the president into what observers described as a "humiliating U-turn" on the subject.
Another explosive confrontation occurred in the Oval Office on Monday during a meeting with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. When questioned about why he waited for Congress to release the Epstein files rather than doing so himself, Trump launched into a tirade against an ABC reporter, accusing her of having a terrible attitude and asking "horrible insubordinate" questions.
"You're a terrible person and a terrible reporter," Trump declared before threatening to revoke ABC's broadcasting license. "I think the license should be taken away from ABC. Because your news is so fake, and it's so wrong."
Pattern of Behaviour Towards Female Journalists
Analysis of Trump's responses reveals a consistent pattern: while he demonstrates relative restraint when fielding questions from male reporters, his reactions become notably more aggressive when the questions come from women. This behaviour isn't new - Trump has previously described female journalists as "nasty" and famously referenced menstruation to dismiss questions from Megyn Kelly.
What distinguishes the current situation is the specific sensitivity surrounding Epstein-related inquiries. Despite Trump's insistence that he has "nothing to do with Jeffrey Epstein," the intensity of his reactions suggests the topic strikes a particularly raw nerve. The controversy shows no signs of abating, with Republican and right-wing figures who previously demanded the documents' release now finding themselves at odds with the president's position.
As the Epstein files continue to generate headlines, Trump's handling of media scrutiny - particularly from female reporters - remains under intense examination, raising questions about presidential conduct and media relations in American politics.
