Trump called a reporter asking him about Epstein a "piggy"

US President Donald Trump has come under fire from critics after he used the phrase "Shut up, piggy" during a confrontation with a reporter on board Air Force One. The reporter questioned him about the contents of an email from Jeffrey Epstein, who said Trump should have known about his sex crimes.

The White House immediately stood up for the president - spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt claimed it was an expression of sincerity and frustration with "fake news."

The criticism escalated when Trump referred to another reporter in the Oval Office as a "horrible person" after questions about the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi and the unreleased Epstein documents. He eventually made these available after signing the bill, although he had initially opposed it.

The Society of Professional Journalists condemned the President's remarks as sexist and inappropriate, but the White House is not changing its position.

(reuters, swag)