Former President Donald Trump has escalated his attacks on journalists, particularly targeting female reporters with derogatory language when questioned about his connections to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. The outbursts come during a politically sensitive period for Trump as pressure mounts over the release of Epstein-related documents.
Air Force One Confrontation Sparks Controversy
The tension reached new heights aboard Air Force One on Friday, November 14, 2025, when Trump responded to a Bloomberg reporter's question about his behaviour with the phrase "Quiet. Quiet, piggy". The exchange occurred after the journalist asked why Trump was acting erratically "if there's nothing incriminating in the files" relating to Epstein.
A White House official later defended Trump's comments, stating the reporter had behaved "in an inappropriate and unprofessional way towards her colleagues on the plane". However, when pressed by The Guardian about whether this implied the reporter had used the term "piggy" towards colleagues, the White House declined to respond.
Pattern of Hostility Towards Women Journalists
This incident represents part of a broader pattern of Trump directing his harshest criticism toward female members of the press. The 79-year-old former president has previously described female journalists as "nasty" and famously referenced menstruation to dismiss questions from Fox News anchor Megyn Kelly during his 2016 campaign.
The recent confrontations occur against a backdrop of significant political pressure. Up to 100 House Republicans were expected to defy Trump by voting to release the Epstein files, forcing the former president into what observers described as a "humiliating U-turn" on the subject.
Oval Office Explosion Over Epstein Questions
Trump's discomfort with Epstein-related questioning was further demonstrated during a meeting with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in the Oval Office. When an ABC reporter asked why Trump had "waited for Congress to release the Epstein files" rather than releasing them himself, the former president reacted with fury.
"It's not the question that I mind. It's your attitude. I think you are a terrible reporter," Trump declared, before threatening to revoke ABC's broadcasting license. He added: "I think the license should be taken away from ABC. Because your news is so fake".
The confrontation became particularly charged given the context of the meeting with Prince Mohammed, whom US intelligence believes approved the killing of Washington Post journalist Jamal Khashoggi in 2018.
Trump's relationship with Epstein spanned more than a decade, with the two moving in similar social circles before Epstein's conviction and subsequent death in prison. The continued questions about this association appear to trigger stronger reactions from Trump than any other subject, though his responses show a distinct pattern of gender-based targeting.
As the pressure surrounding the Epstein files continues to build, political analysts suggest these confrontations with female journalists are unlikely to diminish, maintaining a spotlight on Trump's approach to media relations and the ongoing investigations into his past associations.
