White House Defends Trump After He Calls Reporter 'Piggy' as Press Outcry Grows

The White House on Thursday mounted a forceful defense of President Donald Trump after he referred to a White House correspondent, Catherine Lucey, as a "piggy." Press secretary Karoline Leavitt said the president "calls out fake news when he sees it" and becomes frustrated with reporters she characterized as spreading false information. Leavitt also highlighted what she described as the president's frequent willingness to take questions and provide access to the press, though she did not cite any specific examples of false reporting that prompted the remark.

The exchange took place aboard Air Force One when Lucey asked about the unfolding Jeffrey Epstein case and whether the House would move to release related files. As Lucey began to ask why the president was acting a certain way "if there's nothing incriminating in the files," Trump pointed at her and said, "Quiet. Quiet, piggy."

The comment prompted swift criticism from journalists and press advocates. Media figures called the phrasing "disgusting and completely unacceptable" and described it as degrading. Critics say the incident fits a broader pattern of hostile rhetoric toward reporters, particularly women.

Earlier in the week, in the Oval Office, the president also called reporter Mary Bruce "a terrible person" after she questioned Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman about the killing of Jamal Khashoggi and pressed the president on releasing Epstein-related files. The president condemned the tone of her question and defended his handling of the topics.

"He calls out fake news when he sees it and gets frustrated with reporters who spread false information," Leavitt told reporters, adding that the president "provides unprecedented access to the press and answers questions on a near-daily basis."

Following these incidents, the Society of Professional Journalists issued a statement condemning the remarks and warning that such episodes "are not isolated; they are part of an unmistakable pattern of hostility — often directed at women — that undermines the essential role of a free and independent press." SPJ executive director Caroline Hendrie emphasized that "targeting women reporters with humiliating insults should not be tolerated."

The dispute underscores ongoing tensions between the White House and the media over access, accountability and the tone of political discourse, and it has renewed calls from journalists' groups for leaders to engage with the press respectfully while maintaining transparency.