‘Piggy’, ‘terrible’: Trump lashes out at female reporters

WASHINGTON – President Donald Trump ripped into a reporter from the US network ABC News on Nov 18, just days after calling another woman journalist “piggy” for asking a question related to convicted sexual offender Jeffrey Epstein.

Mr Trump threatened ABC’s broadcast
licence
after reporter Mary Bruce posed questions during a White House visit by Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.

The earlier incident involving Bloomberg reporter Catherine Lucey happened a few days ago on Air Force One but came to light on social media only on Nov 18.

“Quiet. Quiet, piggy,” Mr Trump said to Ms Lucey on Nov 14, pointing his finger at her after she asked him why he would not release material
on Epstein “if there’s nothing incriminating in the files”.

CNN journalist Jake Tapper called Mr Trump’s “piggy” comment “disgusting and completely unacceptable”.

On Nov 18, Mr Trump singled out ABC News’ Ms Bruce after she asked a series of questions in the Oval Office, as the US president hosted the de facto Saudi ruler
in a high-profile event.

Ms Bruce first asked whether dealings by Mr Trump’s family business with the Saudis were a conflict of interest.

She then quizzed the Saudi leader over the 2018 murder of dissident Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi, saying “US intelligence concluded that you orchestrated the brutal murder of a journalist, 9/11 families are furious that you are here in the Oval Office. Why should Americans trust you?”

Mr Trump cut in angrily, saying: “ABC fake news. One of the worst in the business.”

‘No more questions’

The President then said he has “nothing to do” with the Trump organisation, which is currently run by his two eldest sons and which announced a deal with a Saudi developer for a resort in the Maldives on Nov 17.

Mr Trump also backed Prince Mohammed’s denial of involvement in the Khashoggi murder, despite US intelligence suggesting he approved the operation.

“You don’t have to embarrass our guest by asking a question like that,” Mr Trump snapped.

Mr Trump boiled over again when Ms Bruce later asked about the flashpoint issue of Epstein. Congress voted overwhelmingly on
Nov 18
to order the release of files about the disgraced financier, who died by suicide in 2019 while awaiting trial for sex trafficking.

“It’s not the question that I mind; it’s your attitude. I think you are a terrible reporter,” Mr Trump shot back at Ms Bruce.

Mr Trump said he had “nothing to do” with Epstein and repeated his claim that the scandal is a “hoax”.

And “your crappy company is one of the perpetrators”, he told her.

Mr Trump urged the head of the US broadcast regulator – who has previously threatened ABC over its content – to “look at” taking away its licence.

He then pointed at Ms Bruce: “No more questions from you.” AFP