President Donald Trump is facing searing criticism on social media after referring to a White House correspondent as “piggy.”
In a moment that went viral online on Tuesday, Trump took a question about late disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein from a female reporter while aboard Air Force One en route to Palm Beach, Florida, on Friday.
“Mr. President, what did Jeffrey Epstein mean in his emails when he said you ‘knew about the girls?’” the reporter asked the president, referring to an email released by Democrats on the House Oversight Committee last week.
In the email, included in three chains sent between 2011 and 2019 following the committee’s recent subpoena of Epstein’s estate, the convicted sex offender told associate Ghislaine Maxwell and journalist Michael Wolff that Trump “knew about the girls.”
“I know nothing about that. They would’ve announced that a long time ago,” Trump responded, questioning Epstein’s alleged ties to former President Bill Clinton and former Treasury Secretary Larry Summers.
“Jeffrey Epstein and I had a very bad relationship for many years,” he added.
When he began listening to another question, Trump snapped back at the reporter as she attempted to follow up: “Quiet! Quiet, piggy.”
The exchange has since made its rounds on X, sparking backlash from critics and journalists.
“Disgusting and completely unacceptable,” CNN anchor Jake Tapper posted about the instance.
Former Fox News host Gretchen Carlson called Trump’s quip “disgusting and degrading,” writing, “It strikes at the core for me since I faced similar shame.”
Rick Wilson of The Lincoln Project posted an image of Trump, quoting the same insult. The press office account for California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) also took aim at the president, attaching a fake image of his face.
“Donald Trump said ‘quiet piggy’ to a female reporter because she dared to ask about the Epstein files, and as bad as that is, the fact that none of her colleagues defended her, is even worse,” JoJoFromJerz, a liberal commentator, wrote in a post.
Jennifer Welch, co-host of the “I’ve Had It” podcast, said that Trump’s remark is “unbelievable.”
“I think nobody takes misogyny seriously,” Welch added.
A White House official defended Trump’s comment in a statement to MS NOW, formerly MSNBC: “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.”
During a press conference with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in the Oval Office on Tuesday, Trump lashed out at another reporter when asked why he is waiting on Congress to release the Epstein files.
“You know, it’s not the question that I mind. It’s your attitude,” Trump said. “I think you are a terrible reporter… You’re a terrible person and a terrible reporter.”
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Rachel Cohen
nj.com
(TNS)
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