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President Donald Trump has once again demonstrated hostility toward journalists, this time in a confrontation with Bloomberg reporter Catherine Lucey. The incident occurred on November 14 aboard Air Force One, when Lucey asked Trump about emails from the late financier Jeffrey Epstein, a convicted sex offender. Instead of addressing the question, Trump dismissed the inquiry and abruptly called Lucey “piggy,” saying: “Quiet! Quiet, piggy.” The exchange was caught on camera and quickly went viral, drawing widespread condemnation online.

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The remark came just days before Trump reversed his stance on releasing Epstein-related records, urging Republicans to support a bill demanding their release. During the brief encounter, Trump leaned in, pointed his finger, and interrupted Lucey mid-question, insisting that attention should focus on others mentioned in the files, including former President Bill Clinton. The clip’s viral spread ignited outrage, particularly because it involved a female journalist.

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Online reactions ranged from humor to sharp criticism. Twitter/X users highlighted the irony of Trump, who is overweight, calling a reporter “piggy,” while Reddit commenters suggested mocking responses to push back against his behavior. Many criticized the White House press corps for remaining largely silent during the incident, calling it a troubling example of journalists being intimidated rather than protected by their peers.

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In response to the backlash, administration officials defended Trump by blaming the reporter, claiming she had behaved “in an inappropriate and unprofessional way toward her colleagues on the plane.” Details of these alleged actions remain unclear, but critics note that deflecting responsibility in this manner fits a long-standing pattern of Trump’s confrontations with the media, which often involve personal attacks and public disparagement of journalists.

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This episode is part of a broader pattern of hostile interactions with reporters. In the same week, Trump targeted ABC correspondent Mary Bruce over coverage of Jamal Khashoggi’s 2018 murder and publicly suggested that ABC’s license should be revoked. Similarly, he recently insulted another journalist, calling them “the worst” during an impromptu briefing. The latest incident has reignited debate about Trump’s treatment of the press, drawing criticism for his harsh language, his focus on a female journalist, and the administration’s repeated attempts to deflect accountability.