Former President Donald Trump has ignited fresh controversy by personally attacking a New York Times journalist, labelling her 'ugly' just days after he told a separate female reporter to be 'quiet, piggy'. The outbursts were triggered by a report examining his energy levels and official schedule since returning to the White House.
Thanksday Truth Social Rant Over Ageing Analysis
The 79-year-old president began his Thanksgiving holiday on Wednesday by launching into a tirade on his Truth Social platform. He was responding to a New York Times analysis which found his level of official activity has dropped significantly compared to his first term.
The report, which analysed official schedules logged in a Roll Call database, revealed a 39 percent decrease in official engagements. During the first ten months of his current term, Trump logged 1,029 official events, a sharp fall from the 1,688 events held in the same period of 2017.
The analysis also highlighted a shift in his daily timetable. In 2017, his first scheduled events began at 10:31 a.m. on average, whereas now they more frequently start in the afternoon, at around 12:08 p.m.
Personal Attacks and Disputed Claims
In his online posts, Trump dismissed the report as a 'purposely negative' hit piece and escalated his criticism by targeting the story's lead author, veteran White House reporter Katie Rogers. He called her a 'third rate reporter who is ugly, both inside and out,' and accused the newspaper of being an 'enemy of the people'.
Despite the public records used for the analysis, Trump claimed the Times fabricated their findings to damage him politically. He defended his vitality, pointing to a 'perfect physical exam' and a recently 'aced' cognitive test.
However, the president's health has been subject to speculation. He was checked for 'mild swelling' in his legs during the summer and was seen with bruising on his hand. Furthermore, a source close to the president told The Independent that Trump now prefers media interactions in the Oval Office or cabinet room, where he can be seated to avoid fatigue from standing for long periods.
A Pattern of Behaviour Towards Female Journalists
This incident is not isolated. It follows an abrasive encounter aboard Air Force One just days prior, where Trump interrupted Bloomberg News reporter Catherine Lucey. When she pressed him on releasing files from the FBI probe into Jeffrey Epstein, the president pointed his finger at her and snapped, 'Quiet! Quiet, piggy.'
Dr. Jeffrey Kuhlman, a former White House physician who has cared for several presidents, noted to the Times that Trump is often 'sedentary' while in the Oval Office, adding professional context to the observations about his energy and schedule.
These consecutive personal attacks on female journalists have drawn sharp criticism and raised further questions about the environment surrounding the presidency as Trump continues his campaign for a second term.
