President Donald Trump has sparked widespread condemnation after a video emerged showing him insulting a female journalist aboard Air Force One, telling her to be 'Quiet, piggy' as she questioned him about the Jeffrey Epstein files.
The Air Force One Confrontation
New footage reveals the tense moment when the President, while on board the presidential aircraft, pointed his finger at a reporter and used the derogatory remark. The confrontation began when the journalist pressed Trump on the ongoing Epstein probe, asking: 'If there’s nothing incriminating in the files, then why – ' before being abruptly cut off.
President Trump interrupted her mid-sentence, sneering and pointing towards another female journalist as he delivered the insult. This incident, which occurred on November 18, 2025, has been criticised by figures from both the Democratic and Republican parties for its unprofessional conduct.
Bipartisan Backlash and Historical Context
The political group Occupy Democrats was among the first to voice criticism, stating on social media: 'This is the President of the United States. This is how he talks to the press and other adults that he is supposed to lead. America can do so much better!'
This is not the first instance of the President berating members of the media. In 2020, Trump told a female journalist to 'keep her voice down' during an official White House briefing, indicating a pattern of behaviour towards press inquiries.
The Mounting Pressure Over the Epstein Files
The latest outburst came as reporters intensified their questioning about why the Justice Department's files on the late financier Jeffrey Epstein have not been made public. This issue has been a persistent challenge for the Trump administration.
In a significant development, the US House is expected to vote on legislation designed to compel the Justice Department to publicly release all files related to Epstein. President Trump has stated he will sign the bill into law if it successfully passes both the House and the Senate.
This potential release follows the House Oversight Committee's own disclosure of thousands of pages of documents from Epstein's estate, which highlighted his connections to global leaders, political figures, and President Trump himself. While Trump maintains he severed ties with Epstein years ago, he has faced months of pressure for full disclosure, a demand that continues from many within his own Republican base.
Should the bill pass, the public will not gain immediate access. The legislation mandates that the files be converted into a 'searchable and downloadable' format within 30 days before their release. The bill's scope is broad, forcing the disclosure within a month of all communications and files concerning Epstein, as well as information related to the investigation into his death while in federal custody.
The proposed law does allow for the redaction of information to protect Epstein's victims or ongoing federal investigations. However, it explicitly forbids censoring information due to 'embarrassment, reputational harm, or political sensitivity' for any government official, public figure, or foreign dignitary.
