In a striking moment aboard Air Force One, Catherine Lucey, a White House correspondent for Bloomberg News, found herself at the center of a viral controversy. While asking President Donald Trump a question about the recently released Jeffrey Epstein files, the president responded by leaning in, pointing a finger, and telling her to be “Quiet. Quiet, piggy.” The incident, captured on video, sparked immediate backlash and cast a spotlight on the seasoned journalist who was on the receiving end of the insult.
Lucey had asked the president why he wouldn’t release the remaining Epstein files if there was nothing incriminating in them. After Trump gave an initial answer and moved to another reporter, Lucey attempted to ask a follow-up question. It was then that the president turned back to her and made the derogatory remark. The exchange quickly spread across social media, drawing condemnation from media figures and political commentators alike.
You Might Like: Clay Higgins’ Financial Puzzle: Salary and Net Worth
A Distinguished Career in Political Journalism
So, who is the reporter behind the headline? Catherine Lucey is far from a novice; she is an accomplished political journalist with more than two decades of experience covering national politics and the White House. Her career trajectory shows a steady climb through some of the most respected news organizations in the country.
Lucey joined Bloomberg News nearly a year ago as a White House correspondent. Before that, she served in the same role at The Wall Street Journal and the Associated Press, where she covered the presidencies of both Donald Trump and Joe Biden, focusing on politics, gender issues, and domestic policy. Her deep roots in political reporting were forged earlier in her career. She reported on Iowa’s state government for the Associated Press, a crucial position given the state’s first-in-the-nation presidential caucuses.
She also spent twelve years as a City Hall reporter for the Philadelphia Daily News, where she was described by a colleague as Philadelphia’s “most knowledgeable and authoritative reporter on what goes on in the halls of power.” She began her career as an editorial assistant for the Associated Press in 2001.
Backlash and a Pattern of Behavior
Donald Trump snaps at female reporter who asks about Epstein files:
“Quiet, Piggy!” pic.twitter.com/K42gA3uXCD
— Pop Crave (@PopCrave) November 18, 2025
More Read
The reaction to Trump’s “piggy” comment was swift and sharp. CNN anchor Jake Tapper called the remark “disgusting and completely unacceptable,” while former Fox News anchor Gretchen Carlson described it as “disgusting and degrading.” The phrase “Quiet, piggy” began trending online, with critics, including California Governor Gavin Newsom, using the moment to highlight what they see as behavior unbefitting the presidency.
In response to the criticism, a White House official defended the president’s behavior by telling various outlets, including The Independent and Daily Mail, that Catherine Lucey had “behaved in an inappropriate and unprofessional way towards her colleagues on the plane.” The official added, “If you’re going to give it, you have to be able to take it.” No specific evidence was provided to clarify what the inappropriate behavior entailed. Bloomberg News stood by its reporter, issuing a statement that read, “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.”
For many observers, this incident is not an isolated one but part of a long-standing pattern of the president using denigrating language toward female journalists. This was not even the first time Trump has used the word “piggy” to refer to a woman; he previously called former Miss Universe Alicia Machado “Miss Piggy,” and in 2006, he referred to comedian Rosie O’Donnell as a “big, fat pig.” Other female journalists, including Megyn Kelly, Yamiche Alcindor, and Abby Phillip, have also been targets of his insults.
Not long after the “piggy” comment, Trump lashed out at ABC News’ chief White House correspondent Mary Bruce, calling her a “terrible person and a terrible reporter” and suggesting the network’s broadcast license should be revoked. For a journalist of Catherine Lucey’s experience and caliber, being told to be “quiet” was more than a personal insult; it was seen by many as a public attempt to dismiss a legitimate question about a matter of significant public interest.
