WASHINGTON, U.S. – Former President Donald Trump has once again drawn widespread condemnation after targeting female journalists with sexist insults during separate public interactions. In one incident aboard Air Force One on November 14, Trump told Bloomberg reporter Catherine Lucey, “Quiet, quiet, piggy,” after she pressed him on the Jeffrey Epstein files, sparking immediate outrage across social media and news outlets.
The confrontation occurred when Lucey began asking about possible incriminating information in Epstein’s released emails. Witnesses say Trump, visibly irritated, pointed a finger at the journalist while dismissing her question with the demeaning remark. Media observers noted that such behavior not only undermines professional reporting but also perpetuates a pattern of belittling women in journalism.
Trump’s hostility extended to Mary Bruce of ABC News in a separate exchange, where he labeled her “a terrible person” and “a terrible reporter” after she questioned potential conflicts of interest involving Trump family business dealings with the Saudi Crown Prince. During the interaction, he went further to criticize ABC News as a “crappy company” and suggested the network’s FCC broadcast license should be revoked. The former president then abruptly cut off Bruce, saying: “No more questions from you.”
The incidents have reignited debates about press freedom, gender bias, and the role of public officials in respecting journalistic integrity. Prominent media figures, including Jake Tapper, Katie Couric, and Margaret Sullivan, condemned Trump’s remarks, highlighting that attacks on female reporters are part of a broader pattern of intimidation that can discourage critical reporting.
Experts emphasize that such verbal assaults go beyond personal insults. They have the potential to chill media coverage and erode public trust in the press, particularly when directed at journalists investigating sensitive or politically significant matters. Critics warn that dismissive and demeaning rhetoric aimed at women in journalism threatens both gender equity and the accountability role of a free press.
As debates continue, the incidents serve as a stark reminder of the ongoing challenges faced by female journalists in high-profile political environments, and the urgent need to uphold professional respect and media independence.
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