Karoline Leavitt is the current White House Press Secretary under President Donald Trump’s second administration. It’s her job to present the president in the best light possible, which, given who she represents, must be hard. Still, some things Trump does shouldn’t be defended.
When Trump leaned forward aboard Air Force One and sneered, “Quiet. Quiet, Piggy” at Bloomberg reporter Catherine Lucey, the insult was not merely a childish outburst. It was a crystallization of his long‑standing contempt for women in the press. What makes this moment even more troubling is Leavitt's defense of the president. By excusing and valorizing Trump’s misogyny as “frankness,” Leavitt has chosen to normalize a pattern of verbal abuse that undermines both journalism and women’s dignity.
The Air Force One gaggle was supposed to be routine. Lucey asked a follow‑up question about the release of Epstein files — a matter of public interest. Instead of answering, Trump cut her off, pointed at her, and spat out: “Quiet. Quiet, Piggy.” The insult was not only demeaning but deliberately gendered. It reduced a professional journalist to a caricature, mocking her body and identity rather than engaging with her question.
Leavitt’s defense was swift: she claimed Trump was being “frank and honest” with reporters, suggesting that his bluntness was preferable to politicians who dodge questions. This framing is disingenuous. Honesty is not the same as cruelty. Transparency does not require misogyny. By conflating Trump’s abuse with candor, Leavitt attempted to launder sexism into statesmanship.
A Pattern of Dismissive Interruptions
Trump’s treatment of Lucey is not an isolated incident. His presidency — both past and present — has been marked by repeated dismissive interruptions of female reporters.
Yamiche Alcindor (PBS): During a 2020 COVID‑19 briefing, Alcindor asked about racial disparities in the pandemic’s impact. Trump snapped back, calling her question “threatening” and accused her of being “nasty.” Instead of addressing the substance, he attacked her character.
Mary Bruce (ABC): In 2025, when Bruce pressed him on Saudi Arabia, Trump dismissed her outright as “a terrible person.”
Female reporters are disproportionately told to “sit down,” “be quiet,” or “you don’t know what you’re talking about.” These interruptions are not neutral; they are part of a strategy to delegitimize women’s voices in public discourse.
Leavitt’s defense of the “Piggy” remark thus becomes even more alarming. By excusing one insult, she implicitly condones the entire pattern of dismissive behavior.
Perhaps the most infamous example of Trump’s attacks on women in the press came during the 2015 Republican debate, when Fox News anchor Megyn Kelly pressed him on his history of derogatory comments about women. Trump responded afterward by saying, “There was blood coming out of her eyes, blood coming out of her wherever.” The remark was widely condemned as vulgar and misogynistic.
This episode illustrates Trump’s tactic: when confronted by a woman who challenges him, he resorts to sexualized or bodily insults. Instead of engaging with the critique, he attempts to humiliate the critic.
Leavitt’s defense of the “Piggy” insult must be understood against this backdrop. By normalizing Trump’s language, she is not defending a single word — she is defending a strategy of misogyny that has been deployed for years.
Beyond journalists, Trump has repeatedly disparaged the appearance of women he dislikes.
He mocked Carly Fiorina’s face during the 2016 campaign, saying, “Look at that face. Would anyone vote for that?” He ridiculed Stormy Daniels, calling her “Horseface.” Trump has made repeated comments about women’s weight, attractiveness, and physical features, reducing them to objects of ridicule when they oppose him. When considering the source, Trump has no business criticizing anyone’s weight.
These attacks are not random. They are designed to reinforce a worldview in which women’s worth is tied to their appearance, and dissenting women are punished by being labeled ugly, fat, or grotesque.
Leavitt’s defense of “Piggy” therefore extends beyond Lucey. It legitimizes Trump’s broader practice of weaponizing appearance as a political cudgel against women.
As press secretary, Leavitt holds one of the most visible communication roles in government. Her words shape public perception of the presidency. By defending Trump’s insult, she has chosen to side with misogyny over professionalism.
Leavitt’s argument that Trump is “frank and honest” is a rhetorical sleight of hand. It reframes abuse as authenticity. It tells women reporters that being demeaned is simply part of the job. It tells the public that cruelty is transparency.
This is not merely spin; it is complicity. Leavitt is not passively tolerating Trump’s behavior — she is actively legitimizing it.
When female reporters are insulted, interrupted, and demeaned, the consequences extend beyond the individuals targeted. Women may hesitate to ask tough questions if they know they will be mocked for their appearance or called “Piggy.” By framing women’s questions as “nasty” or “threatening,” Trump undermines the credibility of their reporting. When insults are normalized, the public begins to see female journalists not as professionals but as caricatures. Leavitt’s defense exacerbates these consequences. Instead of standing up for the press, she has chosen to reinforce the president’s contempt.
Trump’s insults do not occur in a vacuum. They reflect and reinforce broader cultural misogyny. When a president calls a woman “Piggy,” it sends a message that women can be reduced to their bodies, mocked for their appearance, and silenced when they speak.
Leavitt’s defense amplifies this message. As a young woman in a position of power, her choice to excuse misogyny is particularly damaging. It signals to other women that success requires complicity in their own degradation.
Some may argue that Trump’s insults are mere words, not worthy of severe condemnation. But words matter. They shape norms, influence behavior, and legitimize prejudice.
When the press secretary defends misogyny, she is not just excusing one insult — she is helping to institutionalize sexism at the highest levels of government. Condemnation is therefore essential. Silence would mean acceptance.
The role of a press secretary is to communicate truth, not to launder cruelty. But cruelty is rewarded in the Trump administration. Leavitt’s defense of Trump’s insult is a betrayal of both her office and the women who continue to press for accountability in the face of hostility. If democracy depends on a free press, then defending misogyny against female reporters is not just a moral failure — it is a democratic one.
This post originally appeared on Medium and is edited and republished with author's permission. Read more of William Spivey's work on Medium. And if you dig his words, buy the man a coffee.