White House Defends Donald Trump’s ‘Quiet, Piggy’ Snap at Female Reporter: ‘You Have to Be Able to Take’ It

The White House is backing Donald Trump’s decision to call a female reporter “Piggy” during an exchange aboard Air Force One.

In a statement shared on Wednesday, Nov. 19, a White House official defended Trump’s remarks to Bloomberg correspondent Catherine Lucey, saying, “This 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 official did not elaborate on what, specifically, was considered improper about Lucey’s behavior.

The incident occurred on Friday, Nov. 14, when Trump, 79, referred to Lucey as “Piggy” while speaking with a group of reporters.

Lucey had asked Trump a question about the Epstein files during the conversation. In response, Trump — who has now twice shifted his position on whether to release the files — distanced himself from Jeffrey Epstein and said they “had a very bad relationship for many years.”

He then redirected attention to Epstein’s connections with other high-profile figures, including former President Bill Clinton and other prominent politicians.

Lucey attempted a follow-up, beginning, “Sir, if there’s nothing incriminating in the files…” Trump interrupted her, saying, “Quiet. Quiet, Piggy,” before moving on to questions from other reporters.

A representative for Bloomberg News responded to the remark in a statement to The Guardian, saying, “Our White House journalists perform a vital public service, asking questions without fear or favour. We remain focused on reporting issues of public interest fairly and accurately.”

Before cutting off Lucey’s question, Trump was asked about an email released by Democrats on the House Oversight Committee in which Epstein wrote that the president “knew about the girls.”

“I know nothing about that,” Trump replied, adding that if he had been involved, “they would’ve announced that a long time ago.”

“It’s really what did he mean when he spent all the time with Bill Clinton, with the president of Harvard, who, you know who that is. Summers, Larry Summers, whatever his name is,” Trump continued.

That same day, Trump posted on his social media platform Truth Social, saying he would ask U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi to open investigations into prominent Democrats over their alleged ties to Epstein.

“This is another Russia, Russia, Russia Scam, with all arrows pointing to the Democrats. Records show that these men, and many others, spent large portions of their life with Epstein, and on his ‘Island.’ Stay tuned!!!” he wrote, describing the situation as a “hoax” driven by Democrats.

Trump had previously campaigned on a promise to release the Epstein files, but cooled on the idea after entering office. In July, he labeled the files a “hoax” on Truth Social.

In November, he abruptly reversed course again, urging Republicans in the House to support releasing the files. The vote took place on Tuesday, Nov. 18, and the measure passed overwhelmingly, 427–1.

Republican Rep. Clay Higgins was the lone member of the House to oppose the bill. He defended his stance in a statement on X, saying he had “been a principled ‘NO’ on this bill from the beginning.”

Trump’s decision to back the measure came after it became clear that several Republicans were already prepared to break with him and vote in favor of releasing the documents. Among them was Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, whom Trump later labeled a “traitor” on social media.

The House Oversight Committee had previously released more than 20,000 pages of documents obtained from the Epstein estate. The material included multiple emails Epstein wrote about Trump, in which he called him “borderline insane” in one message and “dangerous” in another.

Trump has consistently denied any wrongdoing related to Epstein, who was arrested in July 2019 and charged with one count of s** trafficking of minors and one count of conspiracy to engage in s** trafficking of minors. Epstein died by suicide in his cell at New York City’s Metropolitan Correctional Center the following month.

After clearing the House, the bill moved to the Senate, where CNN reported that it passed unanimously. It will now be sent to Trump to be signed into law.