White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt sharply rebuked Huffington Post correspondent S.V. Dáte after he questioned why President Trump chose Budapest for a meeting with President Putin. In a text response, Leavitt told the reporter to “stop texting me your disingenuous, biased and bulls— questions.”
The exchange was made public when Leavitt posted screenshots of their conversation on X, also labeling Dáte a “far-left hack” and questioning his professional credentials. The October 16 text chain shows their interaction began with Dáte citing the 1994 Budapest Memorandum and asking if the president understood its implications for Ukraine. Leavitt replied with a curt “Your mom did,” before escalating her critique of Dáte’s journalism career.
Leavitt’s aggressive tone and public exposure of the personal message have drawn criticism from media observers, who say the move blurs the lines between press relations and retaliation. Meanwhile, the press office defended her actions, describing them as a response to persistent hostility and what they view as politically driven questions.