Trump lashes out at female reporters, calling them "ugly," "stupid" and "piggy"
Washington D.C. – In a series of escalating verbal assaults that have drawn widespread condemnation, former President Donald Trump has unleashed a torrent of personal insults against several female reporters who dared to challenge him or publish critical pieces about his administration and health. Characterizing them with derogatory terms like "ugly," "stupid," and "piggy," Trump’s recent tirades underscore a persistent pattern of hostility towards the press, particularly targeting women journalists, as the nation approaches a critical election cycle. The incidents, occurring throughout November 2025, highlight a deeply contentious relationship between the former president and the media, raising serious concerns about journalistic freedom and the decorum of public discourse.
The most recent and perhaps most vitriolic exchange took place at Mar-a-Lago on Thursday night, November 27, 2025, where CBS News chief White House correspondent Nancy Cordes faced the brunt of Trump’s ire. Cordes had posed a question regarding the suspect in the tragic shooting of two National Guard members in Washington, D.C., earlier that week. The suspect, Rahmanullah Lakanwal, an Afghan national, reportedly entered the U.S. under the Biden administration but was granted asylum under Trump’s presidency. Cordes, citing a Justice Department inspector general’s finding that Afghans admitted after the 2021 fall of Kabul had been thoroughly vetted, pressed the former president on his decision to blame the Biden administration for the suspect’s presence. "So why do you blame the Biden administration —" Cordes began, only to be cut off by a furious Trump. "Because they let him in. Are you stupid? Are you a stupid person? Because they came in on a plane, along with thousands of other people that shouldn’t be here, and you’re just asking questions because you’re a stupid person," Trump retorted, his voice dripping with contempt, clearly aiming to discredit her line of questioning with a personal attack rather than a substantive answer.
This incident followed closely on the heels of another highly publicized attack on Wednesday, November 26, when Trump assailed Katie Rogers, a veteran correspondent for The New York Times. Rogers had co-authored an article, published on Tuesday, November 25, detailing concerns about Trump’s age and physical stamina as he contemplates a potential second term. The piece meticulously examined the frequency of his public events, his domestic travel schedule, and the timing of his public appearances. At 79 years old, Trump is the oldest person to be elected president, and the article touched on recent observations that have fueled speculation about his health, including bruising on his right hand and swollen ankles, which the White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt had previously attributed to chronic venous insufficiency. The report also referenced Trump’s own disclosure that he underwent an MRI during a physical examination at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in April.
Infuriated by the article, which he labeled a "hit piece," Trump took to his social media platform, Truth Social, to launch a scathing personal attack. He condemned The New York Times as a "cheap ‘rag’" and an "enemy of the people." Singling out Rogers, he wrote, "The writer of the story, Katie Rogers, who is assigned to write only bad things about me, is a third rate reporter who is ugly, both inside and out." Notably, Trump neglected to mention Dylan Freedman, a machine-learning engineer and journalist who was Rogers’ co-author on the piece, reinforcing the perception that his ire was specifically directed at the female journalist. The New York Times swiftly defended its reporting and Rogers, issuing a statement that read, "The Times’ reporting is accurate and built on first hand reporting of the facts. Name-calling and personal insults don’t change that, nor will our journalists hesitate to cover this administration in the face of intimidation tactics like this. Expert and thorough reporters like Katie Rogers exemplify how an independent and free press helps the American people better understand their government and its leaders."
These recent confrontations are not isolated, but rather part of an observable pattern that has intensified in recent weeks. Earlier in November, while speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One, Trump snapped at Bloomberg White House correspondent Catherine Lucey. Lucey was attempting to ask the former president about the ongoing process of releasing files from the Justice Department’s investigation into convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, a topic of significant public interest. Trump abruptly cut her off, dismissively telling her, "Quiet. Quiet, piggy." The dehumanizing remark drew sharp criticism, with a Bloomberg spokesperson affirming that "our White House journalists perform a vital public service, asking questions without fear or favor. We remain focused on reporting issues of public interest fairly and accurately."
Just last week, during a high-profile visit by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MBS) to the Oval Office, Trump similarly berated ABC News chief White House correspondent Mary Bruce. Bruce had asked a legitimate and pressing question about the 2018 murder of Washington Post columnist Jamal Khashoggi, a horrific event that a U.S. intelligence report released by the Biden administration concluded was ordered by bin Salman himself. Trump, visibly irritated, accused Bruce of embarrassing the crown prince with her inquiry, subsequently labeling her a "terrible person and a terrible reporter." He declared her question "horrible" and "insubordinate," effectively attempting to silence critical inquiry into sensitive international affairs.
The White House press secretary, Karoline Leavitt, offered a defense of Trump’s behavior, characterizing his interactions with reporters as "very frank and honest." Leavitt attempted to draw a contrast between Trump’s approach and that of his predecessor, former President Joe Biden. "I think the president being frank and open and honest to your faces rather than hiding behind your backs, is, frankly, a lot more respectful than what you saw in the last administration, where you had a president who lied to your face and then didn’t speak to you for weeks and hid upstairs and didn’t take your questions," she stated. "So I think everyone in this room should appreciate the frankness and the openness that you get from President Trump on a near daily basis." However, critics quickly pointed out that "frankness" should not be a shield for misogyny, disrespect, or the suppression of legitimate journalistic inquiry. The argument that Trump’s direct insults are more "respectful" than a perceived lack of access from the previous administration rings hollow for many who view his behavior as a calculated effort to intimidate and discredit the press.
Journalism organizations have not remained silent in the face of these attacks. The Society of Professional Journalists (SPJ) condemned Trump’s actions against Bruce and Lucey, noting that these were not isolated incidents but "part of an unmistakable pattern of hostility — often directed at women — that undermines the essential role of a free and independent press." Caroline Hendrie, executive director of the SPJ, emphasized the critical function of journalism in a democratic society. "Journalists are not props at a photo op — they are watchdogs for the public," Hendrie stated. "When reporters ask hard questions about the murder of a fellow journalist, that is not an embarrassment. What’s embarrassing is a leader trying to silence those questions."
This pattern of behavior is consistent with Trump’s long-standing strategy of delegitimizing news organizations and individual journalists who report critically on him. By resorting to personal, often gendered, insults, he attempts to shift focus away from the substance of the questions or reports and instead frame the journalists themselves as biased, incompetent, or physically undesirable. This tactic not only undermines the credibility of the press but also creates a hostile environment for those tasked with holding power accountable. The repeated use of terms like "ugly," "stupid," and "piggy" against women reporters suggests a particularly insidious form of attack, designed to demean and silence them based on their gender, rather than engaging with the content of their work.
As the political landscape heats up in late 2025, with a presidential election on the horizon, the implications of these attacks are profound. A free and independent press is a cornerstone of democracy, providing citizens with the information necessary to make informed decisions. When leaders actively work to discredit and intimidate journalists, particularly through such personal and demeaning language, it erodes public trust in institutions and can have a chilling effect on reporting. The resilience shown by reporters like Nancy Cordes, Katie Rogers, Catherine Lucey, and Mary Bruce, who continue to ask difficult questions despite the verbal abuse, underscores their commitment to their profession and the public’s right to know. However, the sustained nature of these attacks raises concerns about the long-term health of press freedom and the safety of journalists operating in an increasingly polarized and confrontational environment. The ongoing battle between the former president and the press serves as a stark reminder of the vital, yet often perilous, role of journalism in a democratic society.
