The White House came to President Donald Trump’s defense recently, claiming that he is “frank and honest” – an assertion made after he referred to a reporter as ‘piggy’ while discussing sensitive topics aboard Air Force One.
In a press briefing that took place on November 20, Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt responded to inquiries about this curious remark, which had garnered significant online attention.
Though she didn’t dive into specifics of what Trump meant, Leavitt backed him up by highlighting his reputation for having a straightforward approach.
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Leavitt stated, “The president is indeed very frank and honest with everyone here. You all have seen it yourselves. This is why the American people decided to reelect him – his transparency.”
On November 14, while fielding questions onboard Air Force One, Trump found himself repeatedly asked about Jeffrey Epstein, a convicted sex offender. The two had maintained a close friendship for years before parting ways in the early 2000s. Just prior to this setting, democratic lawmakers revealed emails containing allegations from Epstein suggesting that Trump was aware of certain troubling matters.
During this exchange, when a reporter pressed further about Epstein’s claims, Trump denied any knowledge, asserting, “I know nothing about that. That would have been made public long ago.” He then shifted the conversation to probe Epstein’s connections with former President Bill Clinton and previous Treasury Secretary Larry Summers.
As another journalist jumped in post-question, Trump, using finger-pointing gestures, interrupted with, “Quiet! Quiet, piggy.”
This exchange came just ahead of Congress finalizing a law demanding the Justice Department release documents related to Paulson’s investigations into Epstein. Notably, Trump signed that bill into law on November 19.
Leavitt mentioned during the same briefing that Trump tends to feel frustrated when “reports about him are not truthful.”
She emphasized the value of honesty and transparency in everyday encounters with President Trump, saying, “I think everyone here should recognize the frankness and openness you get from President Trump regularly.”
Contributing: Kinsey Crowley, USA TODAY
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Did Trump call a reporter a ‘piggy’? White House says he’s ‘very frank’
