A White House press briefing turned heated after spokesperson Caroline Leavitt lashed out at a reporter who questioned the recent Trump–Putin meeting in Hungary. The exchange quickly spiraled into controversy, drawing widespread criticism from journalists and political commentators.
The incident occurred when a reporter asked, “Who decided that President Trump would meet President Putin in Hungary?” Leavitt, visibly irritated, shot back with the unexpected remark: “Your mother did.”
As the room fell silent, she continued scolding the journalist, saying, “No one takes you seriously — not even your own colleagues. Stop asking me stupid questions.”
The outburst was swiftly picked up by major U.S. media outlets and went viral across social media platforms. Critics described her comments as “unprofessional, disrespectful, and unbecoming of a government official.”
When later asked by foreign correspondents whether her statement was meant as a joke, Leavitt doubled down, saying,
“You’re a left-wing activist who calls yourself a journalist. Don’t expect me to play along.”
Analysts note that the exchange comes at a sensitive time, with the Trump administration already under scrutiny over its opaque relationship with Moscow. The confrontation, they warn, underscores the deepening mistrust between the White House and the American press corps, a divide that appears to be widening as election season approaches.
