White House Defends President Trump, Blames Reporter After He Calls Her ‘Piggy’ in Viral Clip

The White House is standing by President Donald Trump after he called a female reporter “Piggy” in a clip that has gone viral.

In a statement released on Wednesday, November 19, a White House official defended Trump’s remark.

“This reporter behaved in an inappropriate and unprofessional way towards her colleagues on the plane,” the statement, shared with People, read. “If you’re going to give it, you have to be able to take.”

The statement did not specify what the journalist had done that was considered “inappropriate.”

The reporter targeted by Trump has been identified as Bloomberg correspondent Catherine Lucey. She was aboard Air Force One on Friday, November 14, when she questioned the president about the Epstein files — a topic that has drawn national attention in recent months. She asked Trump, 79, if there was anything “incriminating” in the files.

Caught on camera, Trump waved his finger at Lucey and said, “Quiet. Quiet, Piggy.”

The remark sparked widespread attention, but it’s not the first time Trump has publicly criticized reporters. Just two days later, on November 16, he scolded another Bloomberg reporter for interrupting him.

“Can you let me finish?” Trump snapped.  “You are the worst. You’re with Bloomberg, right? You are the worst. I don’t know why they even have you.”

Meanwhile, the Epstein files remain a hot button topic: On Tuesday, November 18, the Senate voted to send the Epstein bill to Trump’s desk for his signature, following House approval hours earlier. The legislation gives the Department of Justice 30 days to release case files tied to the late sex offender.