Trump Attacks Reporters over Epstein, Khashoggi Questions

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From calling a Bloomberg correspondent “quiet piggy” to branding ABC News “fake,” President Trump intensifies his war with the press as tough questions on Epstein Files and the Khashoggi murder trigger fresh controversy.

By TRH Foreign Affairs Desk

New Delhi, November 19, 2025 — US President Donald Trump has reignited a full-blown confrontation with the White House press corps after a series of hostile exchanges over questions related to the Epstein Files and the killing of Jamal Khashoggi.

Veteran journalist Gretchen Carlson publicly backed ABC’s Mary Bruce on X, writing that “an army of women & men” supported her for asking “normal questions” of the President. Bruce had pressed Trump on the resurfaced Epstein Files — questions he had answered a day earlier — prompting Trump to lash out, calling her “terrible” and branding ABC “fake news.”

This followed another explosive moment over the weekend, when Trump snapped at Bloomberg’s White House correspondent Catherine Lucey, telling her, “Quiet, quiet piggy,” as she pushed him on the same issue. The full video, released Monday, went viral and added fuel to the growing criticism of the President’s treatment of journalists.

Trump’s hostility escalated further on Tuesday during a White House appearance with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman — their first meeting since the 2018 murder of Washington Post columnist Jamal Khashoggi. As reported by The Cradle, the President downplayed the killing, calling Khashoggi “extremely controversial” and “unpopular,” even as US intelligence agencies have concluded that the crown prince ordered the assassination.

“A lot of people didn’t like that gentleman that you’re talking about,” Trump said, brushing off concerns. “Whether you like him or didn’t like him, things happen.” When ABC’s reporter challenged him, Trump again criticised the network and suggested its broadcast license should be revoked.

Trump’s Stormy Relationship with the Media

Donald Trump’s clashes with the press have been a defining feature of his political career. From the 2016 campaign through his presidency and into his current term, Trump has consistently framed critical reporting as “fake news” and individual journalists as enemies. His rallies often featured attacks on news outlets such as CNN, ABC, and The Washington Post, and his administration routinely sidelined reporters who challenged him.

The latest flare-ups over the Epstein Files and Khashoggi questions reflect a familiar pattern: confront uncomfortable scrutiny with personal insults, delegitimization, and an escalation of hostility toward the press.

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