A recent interaction between a journalist and President Donald Trump is going viral, but it is far from the first time he has had some harsh words for journalists.

Aboard Air Force One en route to Palm Beach, Florida, on Nov. 14, a reporter asked Trump a follow-up question about the files on Jeffrey Epstein.

Trump scolded her, pointing a finger toward her and leaning in as he said: "Quiet! Quiet, piggy."

Trump has long decried the media, filed lawsuits against outlets over their coverage of him and snapped at reporters. Take a look back at some notable incidents:

Watch: Video shows Trump tell female reporter 'quiet, piggy.'

Who did Trump call piggy?

Jennifer Jacobs, a CBS News White House reporter, was part of the pool traveling on Air Force One, per her social media posts. Video of the gaggle shows Trump calling on a "Jennifer" for a question shortly before turning to the other reporter and telling her, "quiet, piggy."

Jacobs' social media post says the other reporter Trump was addressing when he said “quiet, piggy” works at Bloomberg.

A Bloomberg News spokesperson did not name the reporter, but told USA TODAY in a statement the outlet was focused on reporting with fairness and accuracy.

She has been identified by other outlets as Catherine Lucey.

Other reporter spats include Mary Bruce, Megyn Kelly, Yamiche Alcindor

In another heated exchange in the Oval Office on Nov. 18, a few days after the "quiet, piggy" comment, ABC News' Mary Bruce asked why Trump would not order the Epstein files to be released instead of waiting for the legislation to move through Congress.

"You know, it's not the question that I mind. It's your attitude. I think you are a terrible reporter," Trump said. "It’s the way you ask these questions."

Trump did not answer Bruce’s question and instead continued to lash out at the reporter.

"It’s a Democrat hoax," Trump said, later adding: "I think the license should be taken away from ABC because your news is so fake and so wrong. And we have a great commissioner, a chairman, who should take a look at that."

ABC News did not immediately respond to USA TODAY’s request for comment on Nov. 18.

Trump's sharp words for reporters, especially women reporters, date back to even the beginning of his first presidential campaign. He spoke of Megyn Kelly, who had asked him at a Republican primary debate if he had a presidential temperament, later saying, "there was blood coming out of her eyes, blood coming out of her wherever."

In March 2020, Trump told White House correspondent Yamiche Alcindor, "Be nice. Don't be threatening." Earlier this year, he told a reporter asking about the TACO trade term on tariffs it was a "nasty question." In September, he was in a back-and-forth with a reporter trying to ask him a question, calling her "obnoxious," as she insisted, "I'm not obnoxious."

Trump hits media with lawsuits, too

Trump has previously filed lawsuits against the media that do not amount to anything. In one case, a judge ordered Trump to pay more than $392,000 in legal fees to the New York Times over a frivolous lawsuit. Here are some other recent lawsuits against media companies:

  • New York Times - Trump announced on Sept. 15 a defamation and libel lawsuit for $15 billion against the New York Times. The lawsuit filed in Florida cites a series of articles, an editorial and a book published by Penguin Random House that Trump's lawyers say are part of an "intentional and malicious defamation against President Trump," the court filing shows. The New York Times responded by saying the lawsuit has no merit. The original lawsuit was struck down by a federal judge and refiled in October, according to NBC News.
  • Wall Street Journal - Trump sued Dow Jones & Co., News Corp., owner Rupert Murdoch and reporters Khadeeja Safdar and Joseph Palazzolo in July after the outlet published a story about a birthday letter to Jeffrey Epstein that appeared to be signed by Trump. Trump called it "false, malicious, and defamatory." The House Oversight Committee later released the letter, though the White House said it would still pursue legal action. The Wall Street Journal said it stood by its reporting and would fight the lawsuit. Trump sued the Journal for $10 billion.
  • CBS News - Trump sued CBS News in October 2024 for $10 billion (later bumped up to $20 billion) over edits to a “60 Minutes” interview with former Vice President Kamala Harris. Parent company Paramount settled the lawsuit for $16 million in July, according to Reuters.
  • ABC News - In March 2024, Trump sued ABC News and host George Stephanopoulos over questions about E. Jean Carroll, whom juries found Trump liable for sexually abusing and defaming. ABC News settled the case for $15 million in December, according to Reuters.
  • Des Moines Register - Trump sued the Des Moines Register (a USA TODAY Network newspaper), parent company Gannett, now known as USA TODAY Co., and pollster J. Ann Selzer in December 2024 after a poll released shortly before the election overstated Iowa's support for former Vice President Kamala Harris in the 2024 race for president. The parties have squabbled over the lawsuit's jurisdiction for months. Both USA TODAY Co. and Selzer have moved to dismiss Trump's lawsuit. The lawsuit asked for unspecified damages under Iowa's Consumer Fraud Act.

The White House also announced in February it would control which outlets would be included in the press pool instead of the White House Correspondents' Association after a dispute with the Associated Press, which refused to update its guidance on the "Gulf of Mexico" to the "Gulf of America." Trump has also threatened legal action against the BBC.

(This story has been updated with additional information.)

Contributing: Reuters; David Jackson, Francesca Chambers, Swapna Venugopal Ramaswamy, Zac Anderson, Joey Garrison, USA TODAY

Kinsey Crowley is the Trump Connect reporter for the USA TODAY Network. Reach her at KCrowley@usatodayco.com. Follow her on X (Twitter), Bluesky and TikTok.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: 'Quiet piggy,' ABC News spat, other instances Trump has lashed out at media

Reporting by Kinsey Crowley, USA TODAY / USA TODAY

USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect