President's Demeaning Remark Stuns Press Corps
Aboard Air Force One, veteran White House correspondent Catherine Lucey was simply doing her job when she asked Donald Trump a legitimate question about the recently released Epstein documents. The Bloomberg News journalist questioned why the former president had been stonewalling if, as he claimed, there was nothing incriminating in the files.
What followed was anything but a presidential response. Trump pointed directly at Lucey and uttered the words: "Quiet. Quiet, piggy." The demeaning comment, described by observers as both insulting and misogynistic, left many wondering how such behaviour from a world leader could become normalised.
A Pattern of Press Intimidation
This incident represents just the latest in a long series of confrontations between Trump and journalists, particularly women. During his first term, he frequently clashed with Yamiche Alcindor, then of PBS NewsHour, condemning her "nasty" questions. More recently, he described Alcindor, now with NBC, as "second rate" and demanded she "be quiet".
The pattern extends beyond individual reporters to entire news organisations. Trump recently threatened ABC News, calling reporter Mary Bruce "a terrible reporter" and suggesting the network's broadcasting license "should be taken away". His criticism came after she asked pertinent questions about both the Khashoggi murder and Epstein files.
Silence from the Press Corps Raises Concerns
Perhaps most concerning to media analysts was the apparent lack of immediate response from Lucey's colleagues in the press corps. No journalists present rose to defend their colleague, and the proceedings continued as if nothing extraordinary had occurred.
According to Bill Grueskin, a former Miami Herald and Wall Street Journal editor now teaching at Columbia Journalism School, the explanation is simple: "Access beats out solidarity, every day of the week." Any journalist who had spoken up in defence of their colleague would likely have faced exclusion from future briefings.
Normalising Dangerous Behaviour
Margaret Sullivan, former Washington Post media columnist during Trump's first term, observes that we've become dangerously accustomed to such behaviour. "Getting used to it is dangerous," she warns, noting that constant exposure to such incidents wears down even the most caring observers.
The "quiet piggy" remark should represent a bridge too far, Sullivan argues, not business as usual. She suggests the entire press corps might have collectively shouted back at Trump or walked away from the gathering in protest, though she acknowledges the practical barriers to such action.
Broader Implications for Democracy
This incident occurs against a backdrop of concerning developments in press freedom. Trump recently welcomed Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to the White House with a hero's welcome, despite US intelligence concluding the prince approved the killing of Washington Post journalist Jamal Khashoggi.
The normalisation of such behaviour towards journalists has profound implications for democratic accountability. When reporters cannot ask difficult questions without facing personal insults and intimidation, the public's right to information becomes compromised.
A Test for American Decency
Will the "quiet piggy" moment make a difference? Sullivan suggests it will only resonate with those who still care about decency in public officials and American society. She expresses concern that this might be becoming an "old-fashioned notion" in today's political climate.
What remains clear is that without stronger pushback from both the media and the public, such behaviour is likely to continue escalating, further eroding the norms that sustain democratic discourse and accountability.
