The brief exchange was caught on camera and quickly went viral, sparking outrage online. The footage shows Trump leaning in, pointing his finger, and delivering the remark in a sharp, unusual tone.
The reporter had begun asking: “If there’s nothing incriminating in the files, sir, why not…” before Trump cut her off.
Online reactions
Trump’s remark comes amid growing calls for the Justice Department to release all records related to Epstein. Over the weekend, he reversed his position, urging Republicans to back a bill demanding the release of the files.
The online reaction was swift and fierce.
One Twitter/X user wrote: “This is the president of the United States, who himself is overweight, calling another person piggy,” even posting a picture of the Muppet Miss Piggy alongside the comment.
Another added: “Just imagine ANY OTHER President saying that to a female journalist in a gaggle.”
Reddit users piled on, some using humor to highlight the moment. “Female reporters should from here on out start addressing him as Mr. Fat F*,”** one wrote, while another slammed the press:
“The fact that the whole White House Press Corps just silently sits by and lets Trump do this to their colleagues is one of the most spineless things happening in Washington today.”
On Tuesday, MSNBC senior White House correspondent Vaughn Hillyard posted on X that the administration had weighed in on the growing backlash.
According to Hillyard, officials defended Trump’s behavior by shifting blame to the reporter herself, saying: “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.”
What exactly Lacey was accused of doing to fellow reporters remains unclear. But critics note that this kind of deflection is entirely in line with how the Trump team typically responds to press controversies—and mirrors the president’s long-running hostility toward the media.
“I think the license should be taken away..”
This isn’t Trump’s first public clash with reporters. Over the weekend, he also fired a sharp four-word rebuke at a journalist who interrupted one of his impromptu briefings: “You are the worst. I don’t know why they even have you.”
And earlier this week, Trump targeted ABC correspondent Mary Bruce after she brought up the 2018 killing of Jamal Khashoggi by Saudi agents.
He suggested that his ally, FCC Chairman Brendan Carr, should consider taking action against ABC over its reporting.
“I think the license should be taken away from ABC because your news is so fake and it’s so wrong,” he said.
The latest incident has reignited concerns about how Trump engages with the press, drawing condemnation for his choice of words and his targeting of a female journalist in particular.