Trump's Confrontations With Female Journalists: From "Piggy" Comment to Threatening Media Licenses

Donald Trump targeted a Bloomberg reporter Catherine Lucey, referring to her as "piggy" while pointing his finger at her after she asked a question about Jeffrey Epstein.

On Tuesday, Donald Trump verbally attacked a reporter from ABC News, just days after calling a female Bloomberg journalist "piggy" when she inquired about the convicted sexual offender Jeffrey Epstein.

Trump threatened ABC's broadcasting license following reporter Mary Bruce's questions during a White House meeting with Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.

The earlier incident with Bloomberg's Catherine Lucey occurred on Air Force One several days prior but only became public on social media Tuesday.

"Quiet. Quiet, piggy," Trump directed at Lucey on Friday, pointing at her after she asked why he wouldn't release materials regarding disgraced sex offender Jeffrey Epstein "if there's nothing incriminating in the files."

CNN's Jake Tapper described Trump's "piggy" remark as "disgusting and completely unacceptable."

During Tuesday's Oval Office event hosting the Saudi ruler, Trump singled out ABC's Bruce after she posed several questions.

Bruce initially questioned whether Trump's family business dealings with the Saudis represented a conflict of interest.

She then addressed Prince Mohammed about the 2018 killing of dissident Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi, asking "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?"

Trump angrily interrupted, saying: "ABC fake news. One of the worst in the business."

The president claimed he has "nothing to do" with the Trump organization, currently managed by his two eldest sons, which announced a deal with a Saudi developer for a Maldives resort on Monday.

Trump supported Prince Mohammed's denial of involvement in Khashoggi's murder, despite US intelligence suggesting the prince approved the operation.

"You don't have to embarrass our guest by asking a question like that," Trump snapped.

Trump became further agitated when Bruce later inquired about Epstein. Congress had voted overwhelmingly that day to order the release of files about the 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," Trump fired back at Bruce.

Trump insisted he had "nothing to do" with Epstein and repeated his claim that the scandal is a "hoax."

He added, "your crappy company is one of the perpetrators," directed at Bruce.

Trump urged the head of the US broadcast regulator – who had previously threatened ABC over its content – to "look at" revoking its license.

He then pointed at Bruce stating: "No more questions from you."