White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt Goes Viral for ‘Juvenile’ Text to Reporter
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, 28, is making headlines after her unconventional response to a reporter sparked widespread backlash and debate online.
The controversy began when Leavitt used a “your mom” joke in a text exchange with HuffPost White House correspondent S.V. Dáte, who had asked a serious question about former President Donald Trump’s planned meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
The Text Exchange That Started It All
According to screenshots shared by Leavitt herself on Monday, October 21, Dáte had asked:
“Is the president aware of the significance of Budapest? In 1994, Russia promised, in Budapest, not to invade Ukraine if it gave up the nuclear weapons it inherited when the Soviet Union dissolved. Does he not see why Ukraine might object to that site? Who suggested Budapest?”
Leavitt’s reply?
“Your mom did.”
When Dáte pressed her on whether she found that appropriate — asking, “Is this funny to you?” — Leavitt fired back with a longer message, writing:
“It’s funny to me that you actually consider yourself a journalist. You are a far-left hack who nobody takes seriously, including your colleagues. Stop texting me your disingenuous, biased, and bulls— questions.”
The Backlash
While Leavitt’s supporters praised her for standing up to what they viewed as a hostile press, many journalists and social media users criticized her behavior as “juvenile” and “unprofessional.”
“I don’t know how, but for some reason you thought posting your text made you look better. It did not,” one user commented. “You come across as bratty, immature, and unprofessional.”
Another wrote, “Are you a press secretary or a 5-year-old? You represent the United States — act like it.”
Critics also pointed out that Dáte’s question about Budapest was legitimate, referencing the Budapest Memorandum of 1994, an international agreement that guaranteed Ukraine’s sovereignty in exchange for surrendering its nuclear arsenal — a deal later violated by Russia.
Dáte Responds: “This Is Still America”
In response to Leavitt’s viral post, veteran journalist S.V. Dáte published a lengthy thread defending his professionalism and providing context for his question.
“The press secretary is tossing out ad hominem attacks, hoping to discredit me and HuffPost,” Dáte wrote. “I’ve been doing this professionally for decades before she was even born.”
He went on to describe his 40-year career in journalism, working across traditional newsrooms before joining HuffPost, where he covers the White House.
“Trump is not ‘conservative’ or ‘liberal’ — he is a conman and, now, a criminal moving us closer to autocracy,” Dáte added. “That’s not bias — that’s experience.”
He concluded,
“Ms. Leavitt may not like my questions. That’s fine. I have a right and a responsibility to ask them. This is still America.”
A Pattern of Confrontation
The controversy deepened later in the week when another “your mom” joke surfaced — this time from Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s communications team.
When HuffPost asked about Hegseth’s red, white, and blue tie — which some critics said resembled the Russian flag — the Pentagon’s chief spokesperson reportedly replied:
“Your mom bought it for him — and it’s a patriotic American tie, moron.”
The Pentagon’s Press Secretary Kingsley Wilson also issued a sharp statement to the outlet, saying:
“If loving one’s country enough to represent it head to toe is a crime in the eyes of the leftist blog known as HuffPost, then consider Secretary Hegseth guilty.”
Divided Reactions Online
The incident has sparked a heated debate online about decorum, media accountability, and political professionalism.
Supporters of Leavitt argue that the HuffPost reporter’s questions were “loaded” and “biased,” while critics say her response undermines the dignity of the White House communications office.
“When you hold one of the most visible communication roles in the country, every word matters,” one political analyst tweeted. “Sarcasm isn’t strategy — it’s spectacle.”
Despite the backlash, Leavitt has not apologized and continues to defend her response as an example of “pushing back against fake news.”
A Viral Moment With Political Consequences
Leavitt, who made history earlier this year as the youngest White House Press Secretary in U.S. history, has quickly gained attention for her sharp-tongued exchanges with the media.
While her supporters see her as bold and unfiltered, critics warn that moments like this could further erode public trust between journalists and government officials.
As one commentator put it:
“When professionalism gives way to punchlines, nobody wins.”
