Donald Trump’s long-running feud with the media has erupted into one of its most hostile phases yet, driven largely by renewed scrutiny over his past association with Jeffrey Epstein. In recent days, Trump has lashed out at multiple reporters, especially women, while facing party backlash and uncomfortable questions about the unreleased Epstein files. His latest confrontations, including calling a reporter “piggy,” reflect rising tension inside the White House. But the president’s aggressive reactions have only drawn more attention to the subject he seems most eager to avoid.
Rising Hostility Toward Media
Trump has attacked the media throughout his political career, but his tone has escalated sharply as questions about Epstein dominate the news cycle. On Friday, he used the phrase “piggy” to insult a Bloomberg reporter who questioned him about the files. He also targeted a second female journalist earlier in the week and even threatened to revoke ABC’s broadcast license. These clashes come as Republicans delivered one of their strongest rebukes to him, forcing Trump into a public U-turn after up to 100 House Republicans were expected to vote in favor of releasing the Epstein file.
Epstein Questions Spark Reactions
Although Trump has long clashed with journalists, inquiries related to Epstein appear to provoke him more than any other topic. Trump had been close friends with Epstein for more than a decade, and any reference to that relationship seems to instantly inflame him. “Quiet. Quiet, piggy,” Trump, 79, told the Bloomberg reporter when she asked why he was reacting so erratically “if there’s nothing incriminating in the files.”
White House Pushes Back
A White House official defended Trump’s response, shifting attention to the reporter’s alleged conduct. “This reporter behaved in an inappropriate and unprofessional way towards her colleagues on the plane. If you’re going to give it, you have to be able to take,” the official told the Guardian. When asked if they were suggesting the reporter used the word “piggy” toward others on the plane, the White House declined to answer. The evasiveness only fueled speculation about the administration’s discomfort with Epstein-related questions.
Pattern With Female Journalists
Trump’s sharpest outbursts often come when questioned by women. While he typically restrains himself with male reporters, his reactions to female journalists have repeatedly turned explosive. His history includes calling women “nasty” and referencing menstruation to dismiss Megyn Kelly. But questions about Epstein appear to unsettle him even more. According to observers, those inquiries consistently push Trump toward visible irritation and extreme defensiveness.
Oval Office Confrontation
On Monday, tensions escalated inside the Oval Office during a meeting with a foreign leader whom U.S. intelligence believes approved the killing of American journalist Jamal Khashoggi. A reporter asked Trump why he chose to “wait for Congress to release the Epstein files” instead of releasing them himself. Trump erupted, chastising her not only for the Epstein question but also for asking the Saudi crown prince about Khashoggi. He responded sharply: “It’s not the question that I mind. It’s your attitude. I think you are a terrible reporter – it’s the way you ask these questions.”
ABC Threat and Media Accusations
Trump didn’t stop there. He accused her of being influenced by ABC and launched into an attack on the network. “You’re all psyched, somebody psychs you over at ABC… you’re a terrible person and a terrible reporter,” he said. He claimed he had “nothing to do with Jeffrey Epstein,” then argued that media outlets and Democrats had exaggerated the significance of the files, despite years of Republican demands for their release. Trump escalated his criticism further, declaring, “Your crappy company is one of the perpetrators… I think the license should be taken away from ABC.”
Fallout Likely to Continue
Trump’s pattern of targeting women and dismissing legitimate questions as personal attacks has only deepened concerns about his handling of the Epstein issue. Despite his insistence that he is uninvolved, the president appears increasingly agitated whenever the topic surfaces. And with the release of the files now a central political issue, the scrutiny he dreads is unlikely to disappear anytime soon.