A routine question posed to the White House regarding US President Donald Trump’s proposed meeting with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin left press secretary Karoline Leavitt blushing, with the 28-year-old’s childish response going viral online.
It all started on Thursday when the New York-based news portal HuffPost asked why Budapest was chosen for the proposed Trump-Putin summit.
“Does the president realize the importance of Budapest? In 1994, in Budapest, Russia promised not to attack Ukraine if it gave up the nuclear weapons it inherited when the Soviet Union dissolved. Does he not understand why Ukraine could object to that? Who suggested Budapest? Thanks (sic),” asked SV Dáte, senior White House correspondent on HuffPost, via text message to Leavitt.
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A few minutes later, the White House press secretary replied, “Your mom does.”
But that wasn’t all: after the HuffPost publication article titled ‘White House Gives Savage Answer to Simple Question Asked by HuffPost Reporter’, Leavitt went a step further and uploaded a screenshot of her text conversation with Date.
“Do you find that funny?” was the senior journalist’s follow-up question to the White House press secretary.
“I find it funny that you actually consider yourself a journal. You’re a far left hack that no one takes seriously, including your colleagues in the media, they just won’t tell you to your face (sic),” was Leavitt’s response.
The White House press secretary concluded by saying, “Stop sending me your false, biased and meaningless questions.”
In her post on X, Leavitt reiterated: “For context, Huffington Post’s SV Dáte is not a fact-conscious journalist. He’s a left-wing hack who has consistently attacked President Trump for years and constantly bombards my phone with debating Democrats. Just look at @svdate’s feed, it sounds like a personal anti-Trump diary.” (sic).
Undeterred, Dáte remarked, “Are you feeling better now? Can you answer the question now? Please and thank you.”
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While this drama was unfolding online, HuffPost also published a the second articlewhere the publication detailed the exchange between Leavitt and Date, as well as White House Communications Director Steven Cheung’s response to the inquiry — which, incidentally, was also “Your Mom.”
The HuffPost article highlighted Leavitt’s post on X and her accusations against Date, noting grimly, “She didn’t answer the original question, though.”
‘Are you demented?’: Leavitt faces backlash
Meanwhile, the act of uploading the text change to social media led to more questions for the White House press secretary as people on the internet joined the discussion.
“Are you demented? That was a valid question. The US has pledged to stand by Ukraine if it is ever attacked for giving up its nuclear weapons,” wrote one user.
“You are the spokesperson for the most powerful country in the world. This is completely absurd. It’s not funny, it’s just fucking weird at this point. Stop trying to relate to the younger generation by making these jokes. Millions of lives are being destroyed by deadly wars around the world and you think your mom’s joke is appropriate on this topic. The world laughs. damn it, I’m 22 years old and I even behave more professional than you. Christ, I can’t believe this is what the country has turned into,” wrote another clearly enraged user.
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“You actually posted this because you thought you looked good? This is why record numbers of Republicans are leaving the party,” said a third.
While many were furious at Leavitt’s response as a representative of the United States government, others mocked the 28-year-old and the Trump administration.
“Screenshotting a ‘yo mom’ insult and posting it as a dunk. From the same people who wanted a Nobel Peace Prize LAST WEEK 😂😂😂, (sic),” wrote one user.
“You’re acting like a teenager. Then again, you’re married to a guy 3 times your age and your boss is a pedophile sympathizer. So…,” wrote another.
