The Donald J. Trump administration’s handling of press relations has again come under scrutiny, after a viral incident last Friday in which the President addressed a female reporter aboard Air Force One with the phrase “quiet, quiet, piggy.” The episode, and the subsequent defence offered by White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, provide a revealing snapshot of the current relationship between the White House and the media.
The incident occurred on 14 November as President Trump engaged in a gaggle of reporters en route aboard Air Force One. According to video footage and contemporaneous journalistic accounts, Bloomberg News correspondent Catherine Lucey asked the President about documents related to the late financier Jeffrey Epstein, beginning with the question: “Sir, if there’s nothing incriminating in the files…” before the President interrupted her. At that moment, he pointed at the reporter and said: “Quiet. Quiet, piggy.” His gesture and tone have drawn widespread attention.
In Washington, the remark has prompted debate over the tenor of the President’s interactions with the press, especially female journalists. The fact that the term was used in response to a request for clarifying information on highly-sensitive government documents added fuel to the conversation. The White House granted no further explanation at the time the remark was made.
In a press briefing on 20 November, Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt was asked directly by The Washington Post’s Natalie Allison what the President meant when he called the reporter “piggy.” Rather than offering a definition of the term itself, Leavitt responded by framing the President’s remark as an example of his frankness and openness with the press corps. She said: “Look, the President is very frank and honest with everyone in this room … You’ve all experienced it yourselves. And I think it’s one of the many reasons that the American people reelected this President.”
Leavitt further stated: “He calls out fake news when he sees it. He gets frustrated with reporters when you lie about him, when you spread fake news about him and his administration. But he also is the most transparent president in history, and he gives all of you in this room, as you all know, unprecedented access. You are in the Oval Office almost every day asking the President questions.” She went on: “I think the President being frank, and open, and honest to your faces, rather than hiding behind your backs is frankly a lot more respectful than what you saw in the last administration — where you had a president who lied to your face and then didn’t speak to you for weeks.”
The White House did provide an earlier statement saying that the reporter “behaved in an inappropriate and unprofessional way towards her colleagues on the plane,” but provided no further detail about what the alleged behaviour was.
Observers note that this is not the first time President Trump has used derogatory language aimed at female journalists. Previous public incidents include remarks toward a former Miss Universe winner and a televised personality. In one example, he called the former pageant winner “Miss Piggy” and told her to “lose weight” during his ownership of the contest.
Beyond this specific case, the event arrives amid heightened tensions between the President and sections of the press over coverage of the Epstein files. Earlier this week, during a joint appearance with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, President Trump addressed a question from an ABC News reporter Mary Bruce about Epstein by labelling the network a “radical left” outlet and asserting the licence should be taken away.
Reactions have ranged from criticism of the President’s tone and language to commentary on how the White House is framing access and openness. Some press-watchers suggest the use of “piggy” in this case underscores continuing concerns about gendered insults in the corridors of power, while supporters of the President point to the brevity of the remark and the broader message of confrontational press relations as part of his style.
For his part, President Trump has had a fraught relationship with media outlets that he perceives as unfavourable to him, frequently using terms like “fake news” and “the enemy of the people” to describe media organisations. The incident on Air Force One adds another chapter to that dynamic.
When asked about the moment in the briefing, Leavitt closed off full follow-up questions, stating simply: “I’m calling on Bloomberg — go ahead.” According to the transcript, the line was delivered shortly after her remarks.
Critics argue that Leavitt’s justification avoids grappling with the specific nature of the insult, instead positioning it under a broader narrative of transparency and direct access. The language she used—calling the President “the most transparent president in history” and suggesting that frankness with reporters is more respectful than withholding comment—reflects a distinct tone from this administration’s podium.
The incident also raises questions about the internal dynamics of press travel coverage on Air Force One, where logistic conditions and informal talk among reporters often lead to moments of tension. The White House’s mention of the reporter’s alleged “inappropriate” behaviour toward colleagues indicates a behind-scenes context that has not been publicly substantiated in detail.
In Washington this week, focus shifted back to the larger issue of the Epstein documents: The President’s refusal to release them publicly has drawn repeated questioning from reporters, leading to a series of sharp exchanges. The “piggy” moment came as Lucey pursued follow-up questions about files tied to Epstein, who died in 2019 while awaiting sentencing on federal charges of sex trafficking. Trump earlier said he had a “bad relationship” with Epstein, an admission that heightened media interest.
The White House insists the President’s interactions represent openness—yet for many journalists the episode undercuts that claim. The friction between access and antagonism now once again appears centre stage.
As Washington watchers continue to monitor how the administration handles press access and decorum, the exchange aboard Air Force One stands out for the convergence of rough conduct, media scrutiny, and the broader debate over transparency in the Trump-era White House. The framing of the incident by the press secretary—turning a moment of conflict into a claim of respect and honesty—adds an unusual layer to the dynamics between the executive and the fourth estate.