President Donald Trump has come under intense fire after telling a Bloomberg reporter, later identified as White House correspondent Catherine Lucey, to be “Quiet, piggy!” during a press interaction aboard Air Force One on Monday. The controversy was sparked when Lucey questioned the President about the ongoing public scrutiny surrounding the Jeffrey Epstein files and the possibility of their full release.
The remark, captured on video, quickly went viral, reigniting criticism of the President’s public conduct, particularly toward female journalists.
The Air Force One Exchange
The exchange occurred as reporters, including Lucey, pressed President Trump for comment on the Epstein controversy. When Lucey attempted to ask a follow-up question—specifically asking why he was reacting the way he was if there was “nothing incriminating in the files…”—the President cut her off.
President Trump turned to the reporter, pointed his finger, and snapped: “Quiet. Quiet, piggy.”
The crude remark quickly drew backlash from journalists and commentators, who labeled the comment as “disgusting and completely unacceptable,” noting that it belittled a reporter for simply trying to ask a question of public interest.
The ‘Piggy’ vs. ‘Peggy’ Defense
Following the public uproar, many of Trump’s supporters jumped to his defense online, claiming the President was misheard and had actually said “Peggy.”
- Supporter Claims: Online comments suggested the President was addressing Margaret Collins, known as Peggy, Bloomberg’s Washington bureau chief, a different journalist who was alleged to have interrupted the President.
- Fact Check: However, multiple reports have confirmed that the reporter on the receiving end was Catherine Lucey, Bloomberg’s White House correspondent, whose name is not Peggy. Furthermore, Margaret Collins was reportedly not on board Air Force One at the time of the incident. This contradiction largely undermined the defense claiming the use of “Peggy.”
The derogatory term “piggy” is a familiar one from Trump’s past, having previously used the term “Miss Piggy” to insult former Miss Universe winner Alicia Machado.
Official Responses to the Incident
The incident was first reported by CBS News White House reporter Jennifer Jacobs, who noted that Trump called a Bloomberg News reporter “piggy,” though she did not initially identify Lucey.
- Catherine Lucey’s Stance: The correspondent herself has not commented publicly on the exchange. When approached by media outlets, Lucey directed questions to a spokesperson for Bloomberg.
- Bloomberg’s Defense: A representative for Bloomberg News staunchly defended its journalist, stating: “Our White House journalists perform a vital public service, asking questions without fear or favor. We remain focused on reporting issues of public interest fairly and accurately.”
- White House Defense: A White House official defended Trump’s remark, not by denying the word used, but by shifting blame onto Lucey. The official claimed, without offering any evidence, that the 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 exchange has been highlighted as part of a recurring pattern where the President has been criticized for using demeaning or insulting language toward female journalists who ask him tough or uncomfortable questions.