Catherine Lucey, a White House correspondent for Bloomberg News, was simply doing her job by asking relevant questions. A few days ago, during an informal press briefing on Air Force One, she posed a reasonable query to Donald Trump about the release of the Epstein files—a matter of significant public interest. She questioned why Trump had been evasive if, as he claimed, there was nothing incriminating in the documents.
His reply, however, was far from reasonable. It was degrading, offensive, and sexist. He pointed directly at Lucey and ordered her to stop doing her job, saying, “Quiet. Quiet, piggy,” from the president of the United States.
From what I observed, none of her fellow journalists immediately came to her defense. The moment passed, and things continued as if nothing out of the ordinary had happened.
Yet, if I were to chart Trump’s history of using the press as a target, this incident would stand out. Perhaps it was his pointed gesture, or his direct command as if he could dictate what questions reporters may ask. More likely, it was the vicious name-calling intended to humiliate a reporter publicly, or the silence from her colleagues that followed.
This is life in Trump’s America. Just in the past day, Trump welcomed the Saudi crown prince—who, according to a 2021 U.S. intelligence report, approved the murder of Washington Post journalist Jamal Khashoggi—with a hero’s reception at the White House. (The crown prince has denied any involvement.) Trump also insulted and threatened ABC News and its reporter Mary Bruce for asking pertinent questions about Khashoggi and the Epstein files, calling her a “terrible reporter” and suggesting the network’s license should be revoked for “fake” news.
We’re expected to be accustomed to this behavior by now. Clearly, his ardent supporters endorse it, viewing it as a way for the president to use his power to undermine the “elites” he has taught them to scorn. But becoming desensitized is perilous. We grow weary, and even the most concerned among us shrug and ask, “What can you do?”
For me, though, “quiet, piggy” cuts through the noise. It should be a step too far, not just routine. Imagine if the entire press corps had shouted back in defense of their colleague or walked out in protest. Why didn’t they?
Bill Grueskin, a former editor at the Miami Herald and Wall Street Journal who now teaches at Columbia Journalism School, explained on Bluesky: “Because access beats out solidarity, every day of the week.” Any journalist who dared to push back would likely face exclusion from future briefings.
So, yes, the access dilemma is real. And regrettably, they also remain silent because they’ve grown accustomed to such treatment. This isn’t new; it’s just a particularly egregious example of what has been happening for years.
I’ve watched Trump’s tactics for a long time. As the Washington Post’s media columnist throughout his first term, I witnessed firsthand how he consistently belittled the press—especially women, and even more so women of color. For instance, he frequently clashed with Yamiche Alcindor, then a White House correspondent for PBS NewsHour, criticizing her “nasty” questions. This year, he called Alcindor, now with NBC, “second rate” and demanded that…He, too, told someone to “be quiet.” He publicly called April Ryan, a longtime White House reporter, “a loser.” Nothing changes—it only gets worse—because Trump faces no consequences. His steadfast supporters don’t seem to care. The press corps may write a strongly worded letter, or not, but by their inaction, they also normalize this behavior.
Will this “quiet, piggy” moment make a difference? Only for those who value decency in public officials and in American society. Perhaps that’s an old-fashioned idea. And I’m not sure there are enough of us left who remember why it matters.
Margaret Sullivan is a Guardian US columnist covering media, politics, and culture.
Frequently Asked Questions
Of course Here is a list of FAQs about Margaret Sullivans commentary on Donald Trumps quiet piggy remark designed with clear natural questions and direct answers
General BeginnerLevel Questions
Q1 Who is Margaret Sullivan
A1 She is a wellknown and respected media columnist and journalist She often writes about press freedom political coverage and the relationship between the media and those in power
Q2 What is the quiet piggy incident she wrote about
A2 In 2024 during his criminal hushmoney trial Donald Trump was reportedly heard muttering quiet piggy to a reporter in the courtroom The comment was widely condemned as demeaning and insulting
Q3 Why was this comment so shocking according to Sullivan
A3 Sullivan argued that even for Trump who has a long history of insulting people this comment was uniquely shocking because it was a personal misogynistic and dehumanizing attack delivered directly and quietly to a journalist just trying to do their job
Q4 What was the main point of Margaret Sullivans column on this
A4 Her main point was that this incident was a stark example of Trumps deepseated contempt for a free press and his use of bullying tactics to intimidate and silence critics
Deeper Advanced Questions
Q5 How does this quiet piggy remark fit into the larger context of Trumps relationship with the media
A5 Its part of a longstanding pattern Trump has frequently labeled the media as the enemy of the people called reporters fake news and used personal insults This remark was a more visceral oneonone version of that same hostility
Q6 What does Sullivan suggest is the danger of normalizing this kind of rhetoric
A6 She suggests that when such behavior is normalized it erodes public trust in journalism encourages further harassment of reporters and weakens the essential role of the press in holding powerful people accountable in a democracy
Q7 What is the journalists responsibility in the face of such personal attacks as discussed by Sullivan
