A Republican congresswoman is facing criticism after publicly defending Donald Trump for calling Bloomberg reporter Catherine Lucey “quiet, piggy” during a tense exchange at the White House—an episode that has reignited longstanding concerns over Trump’s history of berating female journalists.
Representative María Elvira Salazar appeared on CNN’s The Lead on Tuesday, where she described the president as “picturesque” and insisted that “no one is perfect.” While acknowledging that Trump is a “difficult” politician, she said she prefers to focus on his policies rather than his personality.
“President Trump is a very picturesque, and difficult, and different type of politician,” Salazar said. “No one is perfect. Those who are perfect are in heaven.”
A Viral Confrontation
The confrontation unfolded as Trump was answering a question related to Jeffrey Epstein. After brushing off the inquiry and moving to another reporter, Lucey attempted a follow-up. Trump raised a finger toward her and leaned in, demanding: “Quiet, quiet, piggy,” using an exaggerated, cartoon-like voice.
The moment quickly spread across social media, drawing sharp condemnation from journalists, political observers, and women’s advocates. Some critics said the comment fits into a pattern of sexist attacks Trump has levied at women in public life.
A White House spokesperson attempted to dismiss the criticism, claiming the reporter had acted “inappropriately” with colleagues aboard Air Force One — a justification that several journalists rejected.
A Pattern of Insults Toward Women
The incident adds to a long list of clashes between Trump and female reporters. A recent Atlantic feature revisited Trump’s history of degrading comments toward women in the media, including the infamous 2015 remark about Fox News host Megyn Kelly: “There was blood coming out of her eyes, blood coming out of her wherever.”
Former Fox anchor Gretchen Carlson called Trump’s latest insult “disgusting and degrading,” while CNN’s Jake Tapper tweeted the clip with the caption: “Disgusting and completely unacceptable.”
California Governor Gavin Newsom also weighed in, sharing memes that depicted Trump with a pig nose alongside images of him with Epstein, captioned “Piggies.”
The controversy further echoes past accusations from former Miss Universe Alicia Machado, who says Trump called her “Miss Piggy” and pressured her to lose weight during her time in the pageant.
Journalistic Community Pushes Back
Bloomberg defended Lucey in a statement, highlighting the essential role of the press. “Our White House journalists perform a vital public service, asking questions without fear or favor,” the organization said. “We remain focused on reporting issues of public interest fairly and accurately.”
White House correspondent April Ryan also noted that she had been called “Miss Piggy” by a Trump official in 2018. She argued that Trump’s remarks reflect his growing agitation over scrutiny tied to recently resurfaced Epstein-related files.
“The president of the United States is supposed to be the moral leader,” Ryan said. “For him to call a woman that? That shows how upset he is about the Epstein files… It tells us there’s probably some fire there.”
Tensions Persist in the Press Room
Just days after the exchange with Lucey, Trump clashed with ABC News Chief White House Correspondent Mary Bruce during a joint appearance with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. The string of confrontations has raised renewed questions about Trump’s posture toward accountability and the role of journalists in holding world leaders to the truth.
As political fallout continues, critics say the latest episode serves as another reminder of Trump’s combative relationship with the press — and the deep divisions over what constitutes acceptable conduct from the nation’s highest office.
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