White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt has sparked controversy by defending former President Donald Trump's use of the vile insult 'piggy' directed at a female reporter, characterising the outburst as 'respectful'.
Defending the 'Frank' President
The remarkable defence occurred during a White House press briefing on 20 November 2025, when Leavitt was questioned about why Trump had lashed out with the insult. She argued that the president's frankness was a quality appreciated by the American people and a reason for his re-election.
'The president is very frank and honest with everyone in this room,' Leavitt claimed, addressing the assembled journalists. 'You've all seen it yourself, you've all experienced it yourselves, it's one of the many reasons the American people re-elected this president, because of his frankness.'
She further suggested that reporters should be thankful for the daily access they receive, framing Trump's insults as a form of transparency superior to previous administrations.
Broader Defence of Controversial Statements
Earlier in the same briefing, Leavitt also faced questions regarding Trump's online posts calling for the execution of Democrat politicians. The posts were a reaction to a video from Democrat congressional veterans urging military personnel to be prepared to disobey illegal orders, as required by US military rules.
When asked if Trump wanted Democrats to be executed, Leavitt said 'no'. However, she proceeded to label the veterans' video as 'dangerous', incorrectly suggesting it encouraged defiance against 'lawful' orders.
This series of defences underscores the ongoing tensions between the Trump administration and the press corps, with officials framing confrontational rhetoric as a virtue of directness.
