President Donald Trump responded with an insult and a refusal to answer a reporter’s question on Friday after she pressed him about efforts to release files concerning the late disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein.
During an exchange aboard Air Force One, captured in a White House video, a Bloomberg reporter asked Trump, “If there’s nothing incriminating in the files, sir, why not [release them]?” before the President abruptly cut her off. Trump snapped back, saying, “Quiet! Quiet piggy!”
Trump’s repeated efforts to stop the Justice Department (DOJ) from being forced to release its files on the disgraced financier have drawn sharp criticism. Lawmakers like Reps. Melanie Stansbury (D-NM) and Robert Garcia (D-CA) argue that the President’s opposition signals fear about what information the files contain.
Critics, including Representatives Melanie Stansbury and Robert Garcia, view Trump’s resistance to the file release as a sign of concern over their contents. Earlier, released documents have contained multiple references to Trump, including suggestions that he may have “spent hours” with an Epstein victim at his home and spent Thanksgiving with Epstein while serving as President.
While Trump reversed course on Sunday, claiming he wants House Republicans to support a measure to release the DOJ files, detractors allege this is a strategic move to self-protect by only allowing a limited, favorable selection of the files to become public.
Watch the clip below:
