Leavitt argues Trump was being respectful when calling a female reporter 'piggy'

On Air Force One over the weekend, President Donald Trump attacked a female reporter, calling her "piggy."

Bloombert's White House correspondent, Catherine Lucey, began asking Trump why he was continuing to resist the release of the Department of Justice's remaining Jeffrey Epstein evidence, "if there's nothing incriminating" about him in the investigation files around the deceased sex offender.

Trump replied, "Quiet! Quiet, piggy!"

The story about Trump's links to Epstein has persisted, as have questions about his comment to the reporter.

During the Thursday briefing, a reporter asked White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt what he meant by that. She tried to argue that Trump was actually being "respectful" to the reporter.

"Look, the president is very frank and honest with everyone in this room," Leavitt said. "You've all seen it yourself. You've all experienced it yourselves. And I think it's one of the many reasons the American people reelected this president — because of his frankness. He calls out fake news when he sees it. He gets frustrated with reporters when you lie about him. When you spread fake news about him and his administration."

"But, he also is the most transparent president in history," claimed Leavitt. "And he gives all of you, as you know, unprecedented access. You are in the Oval Office almost every day, asking the president questions. So, I think, the president being frank and open and honest to your faces rather than hiding behind your backs is, frankly, a lot more respectful than what you saw in the last administration."

She said that former President Joe Biden "lied to your face and didn't speak to you for weeks."

Watch Leavitt's remarks below: