Mocking Remark Over U.S.-Russia Summit Venue Question
Releases Texts on Social Media Amid Controversy
"Activists Pretending to Be Real Journalists"
Caroline Levitt, White House spokesperson, has sparked controversy after she made a mocking remark to a reporter who asked, "Who decided the location for the U.S.-Russia summit?" Levitt responded, "Your mom did." In response, Levitt released the text messages containing the context of the conversation as a countermeasure.
Caroline Levitt, White House spokesperson, has come under controversy for inappropriate behavior toward a reporter. Photo by AP Yonhap News
On October 20 (local time), Levitt posted a screenshot on X (formerly Twitter) of her text message exchange on October 16 with S.V. D?te, the White House correspondent for the U.S. online media outlet Huffington Post.
Levitt criticized, "D?te from Huffington Post is not a reporter interested in facts," adding, "He is a left-wing writer who has been continuously attacking President Trump for years, is armed with Democratic Party talking points, and keeps bombarding my phone."
She further took issue with D?te's consistent criticism of the Trump administration. Levitt wrote, "If you look at D?te's feed, it's like an anti-Trump diary," adding, "This is my full response to his 'inquiry'." She also stated, "Activists pretending to be real journalists undermine trust in the media."
This comes as Levitt's text conversation with D?te, who has a 30-year career including at the Associated Press, was made public, sparking controversy over her "rude response." D?te published an article on October 17 based on the text exchange with Levitt, in which mocking expressions such as "Your mom did" were included, leading to criticism that her behavior was inappropriate.
According to the released conversation, D?te asked Levitt a question on October 16, the day President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin agreed during a phone call to hold a summit in Budapest, Hungary.
D?te wrote, "Is the President aware of the significance of Budapest? In 1994, Russia promised in Budapest not to invade Ukraine if Ukraine gave up the nuclear weapons it inherited after the collapse of the Soviet Union. Does he not know why Ukraine might object to that location? Who suggested Budapest? Thank you for taking my question."
Levitt replied, "Your mom did." The phrase "your mom" is known in the U.S. as a rude expression used by teenagers to mock or provoke others.
D?te responded, "Do you find this funny?" and received another insulting reply. Levitt said, "It's funny that you actually consider yourself a member of the press. You are an extreme left-wing writer whom no one, including your colleagues in the media, takes seriously. I just don't say it to your face. Stop sending me your hypocritical, biased nonsense messages."
Levitt was appointed White House spokesperson at the age of 27 on January 27, after President Trump secured re-election. She has shown a hostile attitude toward media outlets critical of the Trump administration.
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