White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt isn’t known for mincing words — and this week, she made headlines again after absolutely torching a senior Huffington Post reporter who attempted what appeared to be a smug, passive-aggressive text ambush. The target: President Trump’s upcoming meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Budapest, Hungary — a location already triggering waves of commentary in the media sphere.
Congratulations to HuffPost for eliciting the most legendary response from the White House.
HuffPost asked who picked the location for Trump’s upcoming meeting with Putin.@PressSec responded: “Your mom did.”@StevenCheung47 responded: “Your mom.”
Hilarious responses. pic.twitter.com/jiRII8jGUz
— Steve Guest (@SteveGuest) October 17, 2025
The reporter in question, S.V. Dáte, tried to cloak a jab in the guise of inquiry, questioning whether Trump understood the “historical ramifications” of choosing Budapest — clearly insinuating some dark subtext. His message, a blend of snark and condescension, ended with the smarmy, “Who suggested Budapest?”
Leavitt’s reply? “Your mom did.”
Brutal. And viral.
While the left-leaning reporter was quick to share her response — presumably hoping to rally outrage — Leavitt beat him to the punch, posting the full exchange on social media, revealing the full context Dáte conveniently left out. What followed was a full-throated takedown that left no ambiguity about her view of his brand of “journalism.”
“It’s funny to me that you actually consider yourself a journal [sic],” she texted back. “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. Stop texting me your disingenuous, biased, and bull**** questions.”
This wasn’t just an off-the-cuff insult — it was the strategic unmasking of a press corps attitude that many in conservative circles argue has gone unchecked for years: the activist reporter masquerading as a neutral observer.
For context, S.V. Dáte of the Huffington Post is not a journalist interested in the facts. He is a left-wing hack who has consistently attacked President Trump for years and constantly bombards my phone with Democrat talking points.
Just take a look at @svdate’s feed, it reads… https://t.co/NxWn2mdUsa pic.twitter.com/v7owI5N4us
— Karoline Leavitt (@PressSec) October 20, 2025
Leavitt followed up by calling out Dáte’s long-standing bias, pointing out that his social media feed reads like a “personal anti-Trump diary.” And she’s not wrong — a quick glance reveals little interest in balanced reporting and plenty of partisan rhetoric aimed at undermining the Trump administration at every turn.
But what makes this moment so significant is not just Leavitt’s sharp reply — it’s what it represents. The days of conservative officials playing nice with openly antagonistic members of the press appear to be over. Leavitt is part of a new generation of political communicators who meet hostility with scorched-earth clarity, and who aren’t afraid to say what many on the right have long felt: that much of modern political journalism is agenda-driven, not fact-based.
Ironically, Dáte’s attempt to frame Leavitt as unprofessional ended up highlighting his own pettiness. Her response may have been blunt, even crass — but it was also a calculated exposure of media double standards and left-wing sanctimony.
