Politics
White House Press Secretary Clashes with Reporter Over Budapest Inquiry
WASHINGTON, D.C. — White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt engaged in a heated exchange with S.V. Date, a reporter from the Huffington Post, on Monday, October 20. The altercation arose after Date texted Leavitt about President Donald Trump’s planned meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Budapest.
Date questioned whether Trump was aware of the historical significance of Budapest, referencing a 1994 agreement where Ukraine relinquished its nuclear arsenal in exchange for security promises from Russia. He wrote, ‘Does he not see why Ukraine might object to that site? Who suggested Budapest?’ Leavitt responded mockingly, ‘Your mom did.’
When Date asked if she found the situation amusing, Leavitt fired back, saying, ‘Stop texting me your disingenuous, biased, and bulls–t questions.’ The exchange highlighted the ongoing tensions between the White House and certain media outlets.
Leavitt later shared the text exchange on social media, accusing Date of being a ‘left-wing hack’ who bombards her with biased questions. She stated, ‘Activists who masquerade as real reporters do a disservice to the profession.’ In her post, she argued that Date’s Twitter feed resembled an ‘anti-Trump personal diary.’
Date continued to press Leavitt on the Budapest inquiry within the same social media thread. He asked, ‘Feel better now? Now can you answer the question? Please and thank you.’ His questioning style and Leavitt’s reaction exemplify the contentious relationship between some journalists and the Trump administration.
In a separate article published that evening, Date also addressed Leavitt’s claim in a sarcastic tone, stating that the HuffPost felt ‘devastated’ by her responses. A HuffPost spokesperson defended the outlet’s commitment to fact-based journalism and expressed hope for a professional response from Leavitt.
The upcoming meeting in Budapest between Trump and Putin is expected to draw significant attention, given the sensitive nature of U.S.-Russia relations.
