Trump's Rhetoric Takes Aim at Female Journalists in Pattern of Disparagement

52 minutes ago7 min read

Former President Donald Trump has intensified his criticism of female journalists, employing a pattern of personal insults that includes calling them 'stupid,' 'ugly,' and 'piggy. ' This approach appears to be a strategic element of a political style that uses personal attacks to challenge institutional credibility.A recent exchange with CBS News’ Nancy Cordes, whom he asked 'Are you stupid?' after a question about a National Guard incident, illustrates this tendency. Likewise, his rebuke of ABC’s Mary Bruce—whom he called a 'terrible reporter' for pressing Saudi Arabia's crown prince on the killing of Jamal Khashoggi—was presented as a public reprimand.The gendered nature of these remarks is notable; the directive of 'quiet, piggy' to a Bloomberg reporter asking about the Epstein files conveys a specific hostility that is less frequently applied to male journalists. Historical examples reinforce this pattern, such as the 2023 CNN town hall where he called moderator Kaitlan Collins a 'nasty person,' or the 2020 briefings where he told PBS’s Yamiche Alcindor to 'be nice' and instructed CBS’s Weijia Jiang to 'keep your voice down.' These repeated incidents suggest a trend where professional questioning is often treated as a personal affront, especially when the reporter is a woman. A spokesperson for Trump has defended his comments as a reflection of his unfiltered style and public skepticism of the media, framing it as a form of authenticity.However, press freedom advocates, including the Society of Professional Journalists, describe it as a 'pattern of hostility' that weakens the foundations of a free press. The impact of this rhetoric extends beyond individual confrontations.When such language comes from a prominent public figure, it can normalize public antagonism toward the media, potentially fostering an environment where intimidation is tolerated. This dynamic poses a risk to democratic dialogue by suggesting that the appropriate reaction to challenging inquiries is not substantive debate, but personal disparagement.

#featured

#Donald Trump

#journalists

#press freedom

#media relations

#White House

#gender

#rhetoric