White House Press Secretary Responds to Reporter with “Your Mom” Text
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt engaged in a public dispute with a Huffington Post reporter yesterday, responding to a question about a potential meeting location with a dismissive text message widely circulated online.
The exchange began when reporter S.V. Dáte inquired about the selection of Budapest as a possible site for a meeting between the President and Russian President Vladimir Putin. Dáte’s message, sent on October 16, questioned the appropriateness of the location given Russia’s 1994 assurances in Budapest regarding Ukraine’s territorial integrity following its relinquishment of nuclear weapons. According to a screen grab shared by both parties, Leavitt responded to Dáte’s inquiry with, “Your mom did.”
Dáte followed up, asking if Leavitt found the exchange humorous, to which she replied, “It’s funny to me that you actually consider yourself a journal. You are a far left hack who nobody takes seriously, including your colleagues in the media, they just don’t tell you that to your face. Stop texting me your disingenuous, biased, and bulls-t questions.” Leavitt subsequently posted the exchange on social media, characterizing Dáte as a partisan activist rather than a journalist and stating he “consistently attacks President Trump.” She further claimed his inquiries were “Democrat talking points.” You can find more information about the history of the Budapest Memorandum here.
This incident occurs as the White House navigates ongoing scrutiny regarding international diplomacy and communication strategies. The public nature of the exchange raises questions about professional conduct and the relationship between the administration and the press. The incident highlights the increasingly fraught dynamic between the White House and certain members of the media, potentially impacting future information access and reporting.
The White House has not issued a further statement beyond Leavitt’s initial post, but officials indicated they are reviewing internal communication protocols.
