A recent outburst from former President Donald Trump aboard Air Force One has captured national attention, highlighting a disturbing pattern of behaviour towards journalists. The incident, which occurred on Friday, 14 November 2025, saw Trump level a deeply personal and sexist insult at a female reporter during a press gaggle.
The Air Force One Confrontation
In a now-viral clip, Trump is seen pointing his finger angrily at Bloomberg correspondent Catherine Lucey and telling her, "Quiet, piggy." The admonishment came as Lucey pressed the President on why he was fighting against the release of documents related to the late financier and convicted sex offender, Jeffrey Epstein. Lucey had pointedly asked why there was resistance to transparency "if there’s nothing incriminating in the files."
This was not an isolated incident in a tumultuous news cycle. Shortly after, Trump chastised another female journalist, ABC News's Mary Bruce, for what he deemed a "rude" question posed to Saudi Arabian Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman about the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi. Trump defended the Crown Prince, stating, "You don’t have to embarrass our guest by asking a question like that," despite a CIA assessment concluding the Saudi leader directed the killing.
Why This Incident Resonated
Despite being one of thousands of controversial moments from Trump, the "quiet, piggy" remark struck a particular nerve. The combined force of two aggressive outbursts at female journalists in a single cycle—one asking about a child sexual abuser and another about a murdered colleague—transcended standard political theatre.
Part of the collective ire stemmed from the lack of immediate defence for Lucey from her colleagues in the press gaggle. This silence underscored a worrying trend where those targeted by Trump often stand alone, with others fearing they could be next. The condemnations from journalistic bodies like the Society of Professional Journalists came later, stating these actions are "part of an unmistakable pattern of hostility – often directed at women – that undermines the essential role of a free and independent press."
Meanwhile, the White House doubled down on the comment, claiming Lucey had behaved "in an inappropriate and unprofessional way towards her colleagues on the plane," though they provided no specific details to support the allegation.
A Shifting Media and Political Landscape
The clip's virality also signals a shift in how news narratives are formed. The story gained millions of views online days after the event, largely propelled by left-leaning digital creators and accounts rather than traditional media outlets. This demonstrates a growing ability for online ecosystems to shape a news cycle independently.
Politically, the incident occurred as Trump faces a series of setbacks, including Democratic victories in off-year elections, being forced to reverse course on the Epstein files, and a faltering economy. The raw anger displayed on Air Force One could be interpreted as a sign of a leader on the back foot.
In response, some Democrats have adopted Trump's own tactics. California Governor Gavin Newsom's press office, for instance, has Photoshopped Trump's face onto pigs and repeatedly tweeted "quiet, piggy" back at him.
As commentator Joyce Alene suggested on X, women might reclaim the insult, much like Portland reclaimed a symbol, proposing the "glamorous, sassy Muppet Miss Piggy, a known diva with a fierce karate chop" as a symbol of resistance. In the era of Trump 2.0, it is never clear which affronts will stick, but the symbolism of this one appears to have found its mark.
