Overview
- The exchange happened Friday aboard Air Force One, but a video posted Tuesday drew widespread attention online.
- The reporter was Catherine Lucey of Bloomberg, who was pressing Trump on the release of Jeffrey Epstein case files and a pending House vote.
- Prominent media figures including CNN’s Jake Tapper and Gretchen Carlson denounced the remark as repugnant, and press-rights advocates warned such insults can chill women’s reporting.
- A White House official blamed the reporter’s conduct without providing evidence, characterizing it as inappropriate and unprofessional.
- Bloomberg said its White House reporters perform an essential public service by asking questions without fear or favoritism, though some outlets reported the organization initially declined to comment.