“A third-rate reporter who is ugly, both inside and out.”

“Are you stupid?”

“Quiet, piggy.”

These scathing comments made by President Donald Trump toward female reporters have dominated the headlines over the past few weeks and are the most recent example of his “honest,” “frank” and “respectful” demeanor, according to White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt.

But these outbursts are anything but.

Journalists have asked increasingly difficult, necessary questions of the commander in chief regarding the Epstein files, his relationship with Saudi Arabia’s crown prince, Mohammed bin Salman, and the shooting of two National Guard troops on Nov. 26, all of which have elicited his spiteful reactions.

These reactions have then been used to shut reporters down and divert attention away from the questions they actually want answered.

While it is not new for politicians to skate around questions, the ways in which Trump does so set a dangerous precedent for how the public perceives and interacts with journalists and reporters. Each “quiet piggy” or insult against a newsperson normalizes degrading and personally insulting language.

Each “terrible person” says that it is ok to attack the character of someone just because you don’t like the question they are asking.

In the case of his meeting with the crown prince, Trump went as far as to excuse the death of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, whose murder in 2018 was ordered by the prince, the CIA concluded.

“You’re mentioning somebody that was extremely controversial. A lot of people didn’t like that gentleman that you’re talking about,” he told ABC News’ Chief White House Correspondent, Mary Bruce, one of the women targeted by his comments. “Whether you liked him or didn’t like him, things happen,” Trump said.

Later in the same press conference, she was called a “terrible person and terrible reporter” after asking Trump a question about Epstein.

“Whether you liked him or didn’t like him, things happen,” Trump said.

Statements like these legitimize and excuse violence against members of the press, a phenomenon that is increasing around the world, according to data from the United Nation Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization.

Talk about respect.

The president of the United States is one of the world’s most important, visible figures. With this exposure comes a responsibility to set an example for how leaders and people in general should treat those they interact with, especially in a democracy. Trump spits in the face of this responsibility.

But that is probably on purpose.

At its best, journalism is a public service. It is the fourth-estate, the watch dog of those in power and a necessary part of our democracy. It is not something to be taken for granted.

Journalists like Bruce and others who have fallen victim to Trump’s tirades have shown resolve and bravery as he attempts to publicly humiliate them.

The American people and other journalists must acknowledge these sacrifices and cannot grow complacent as this language continues to become more normalized.