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President Trump Calls Bloomberg Reporter “Piggy” During Air Force One Exchange About Epstein Files
President Donald Trump sparked controversy last week when he called a female Bloomberg reporter “piggy” during a heated exchange aboard Air Force One. The incident occurred as journalists pressed the president about recently released documents related to his relationship with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
Video footage of the November 14 incident shows Trump responding sharply to Bloomberg reporter Catherine Lucey when she questioned why he appeared defensive about the documents if they contained nothing incriminating.
“Quiet, quiet, piggy!” Trump can be heard saying while pointing at the reporter, before quickly moving on to answer a question about Venezuela.
The authenticity of the footage has been verified by multiple fact-checking organizations who reviewed the video several times and examined eyewitness accounts from journalists present on the presidential aircraft.
CBS News reporter Jennifer Jacob documented the exchange on social media, writing that Trump made the remark when the Bloomberg reporter asked “why, if there’s nothing incriminating in the files, he’s acting like there is.”
When asked about the incident, a White House official did not deny Trump’s comments, instead suggesting the reporter had behaved inappropriately. “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,” the official told reporters. However, the White House provided no evidence to support claims of unprofessional conduct by Lucey.
The exchange came amid growing scrutiny over Trump’s connections to Epstein following the release of more than 20,000 documents by the U.S. House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform. These documents, which included emails to and from Epstein’s account, have fueled speculation about what the late financier may have known about the president.
During the same press gaggle, Trump was directly questioned about what Epstein meant in emails when suggesting the president “knew about the girls.”
Trump denied any knowledge of such matters, deflecting attention to others who associated with Epstein. “I know nothing about that,” the president responded. “They would’ve announced that a long time ago. It’s really what did he mean when he spent all the time with Bill Clinton, with the president of Harvard… and all of the other people that he spent time with.”
The president went on to characterize his relationship with Epstein as adversarial. “Jeffrey Epstein and I had a very bad relationship for many years. But he also saw strength because I was president. So he dictated a couple of memos to himself. Give me a break,” Trump said.
Two days after the incident, Trump addressed some of his Air Force One comments on Truth Social, writing that “House Republicans should vote to release the Epstein files, because we have nothing to hide.” He characterized concerns about his Epstein connections as a “Democrat Hoax perpetrated by Radical Left Lunatics.”
The controversy comes as investigators continue examining the extensive documents related to Epstein, including an email in which Epstein reportedly referred to Trump as the “dog that hasn’t barked” and claimed Trump spent hours with a sex-trafficking victim at Epstein’s home.
Media organizations and women’s advocacy groups have criticized the president’s language toward the female reporter as demeaning and inappropriate. This incident adds to a pattern of contentious relationships between Trump and the press corps that has characterized his presidency.
The Bloomberg News organization has not yet issued a formal statement regarding the incident, and requests for comment from Lucey herself have gone unanswered as of press time.
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7 Comments
I’m not surprised the President got defensive – the Epstein case is a sensitive topic. However, calling a reporter ‘piggy’ is unprofessional and undermines public trust. Both sides need to maintain composure during confrontational situations.
The exchange is concerning, as it reflects the broader breakdown in constructive dialogue between the media and political leadership. I hope both sides can find a way to engage more productively on important issues like the Epstein case, rather than resorting to personal attacks.
This incident highlights the combative relationship between the media and the Trump administration. While the President’s remarks were inappropriate, the reporter’s line of questioning may have been designed to provoke a reaction. Maintaining professionalism on both sides is crucial.
While the President’s language was regrettable, the reporter’s questioning also seemed confrontational. These types of tense exchanges do little to shed light on the important issues at hand. I hope both sides can find a way to engage more constructively going forward.
This type of exchange does little to inform the public or advance the discourse. I’d prefer to see more substantive discussion of the Epstein documents and their implications, rather than personal attacks. The media and the administration should strive for a higher level of civil discourse.
Interesting exchange between the President and the reporter. While the language used was perhaps less than ideal, it’s clear the President was under pressure about the Epstein documents. This highlights the tension between the media and the administration.
The President’s response seems inappropriate, but the reporter’s line of questioning may have been provocative as well. It’s a complex issue and I’d encourage looking at it objectively rather than rushing to judgment on either side.