In a recent exchange, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt criticized HuffPost reporter S.V. Date, calling him a “left-wing hack.” The heated interaction stemmed from Date’s inquiry regarding President Trump’s upcoming meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Budapest.
Background on Budapest Meeting
Date asked Leavitt if Trump understood the significance of Budapest, highlighting its historical context. This city was the venue for a 1994 agreement in which Ukraine forfeited nuclear weapons in exchange for a promise from Russia not to use military force against it.
Leavitt’s Response
In her reaction, Leavitt accused Date of frequently sending “disingenuous” questions. She shared the text messages on X, further asserting that Date’s inquiries were politically biased.
- Leavitt: “Your mom did,” in response to Date’s probing questions.
- Date responded, “Is this funny to you?”
- Leavitt countered, “It’s funny to me that you actually consider yourself a journal.”
Leavitt expressed disdain for Date’s reporting style, stating that he presents an “anti-Trump personal diary” instead of factual journalism. She criticized the trend of activists posing as journalists, claiming it undermines the integrity of the profession.
Aftermath of the Exchange
Despite the fiery exchange, Date continued to press for clarity on the Budapest summit. In a follow-up tweet, he wrote, “Feel better now? Now can you answer the question? Please and thank you.”
Reactions from Other Officials
The exchange has sparked similar responses from other Trump administration officials. For instance, in a HuffPost article discussing War Secretary Pete Hegseth’s patriotic tie during a visit from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell quipped, “Your mom bought it for him — and it’s a patriotic American tie, moron.”
This lively back-and-forth highlights tensions between the White House and certain media outlets, exemplifying the ongoing conflict between political figures and journalists.
