White House Doubles Down After Trump Calls Reporter ‘Piggy’

Former President Donald Trump sparked major backlash after calling Bloomberg reporter Catherine Lucey “piggy” during a press gaggle aboard Air Force One.

The insult came when Lucey pressed him on Jeffrey Epstein’s files — and now the White House is backing him, pointing the finger at her instead of taking accountability.

What Trump Actually Said

During a tense exchange, Lucey asked Trump about whether the Epstein files held incriminating information. As she followed up, he leaned in, pointed his finger, and said:

“Quiet. Quiet, piggy.”
The moment quickly went viral, reigniting debate over Trump’s treatment of women journalists.

White House Defends Trump: It’s Her Fault (Again)

Instead of apologizing, a White House official defended Trump’s dig by attacking Lucey’s behavior. According to their statement:

“This reporter behaved in an inappropriate and unprofessional way toward her colleagues on the plane.”
They added a classic political line:
“If you’re going to give it, you have to be able to take it.”

Backlash & Political Meme Firestorm

Unsurprisingly, critics didn’t hold back. Many saw the “piggy” comment as a glaring example of sexism — part of a long pattern of Trump’s derogatory remarks toward female journalists.

Meanwhile, California Governor Gavin Newsom responded with a barrage of memes, using AI-generated images of Trump as a pig. The viral moment quickly turned into meme fuel across social media.

Why This Matters

• Free press under attack: When leaders insult journalists, it chills tough questions — especially about matters as serious as Epstein’s network.
• Gendered rhetoric: “Piggy” isn’t just a random insult. Many argue it’s part of a pattern of misogynistic commentary.
• Trust in the White House: Defending the insult rather than apologizing raises concerns about how the administration views media criticism.

You might also want to read: Trump Roasted Online After Epstein Emails Mention “Bubba”