“Immature and childish,” one person said of the White House press secretary’s response

Karoline Leavitt has the internet talking after sharing a private text exchange condemning a journalist.

On Monday, Oct. 20, the 28-year-old White House Press Secretary posted a private message between herself and HuffPost White House correspondent S.V. Dáte to social media, showing her sarcastic response to one of his questions about a planned meeting between President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt speaks during a press briefing in the Brady Press Briefing Room at the White House on on October 03, 2025 in Washington, DC

Anna Moneymaker/Getty

In his initial text, Dáte asked Leavitt if Trump was “aware of the significance of Budapest” as the politician, 79, selected the capital of Hungary as the place to meet with Putin.

Karoline Leavitt Blasts Reporter by Posting Screenshot of His Private Texts. Now Her Bizarre Reply Is Going Viral

Karoline Leavitt posts screenshot to X.Karoline Leavitt/X

“Who suggested Budapest?” Dáte asked.

“Your mom did,” she replied.

The White House correspondent, who previously mentioned Russia’s 1994 promise to not invade Ukraine as long as the country gave up its nuclear weapons, asked Leavitt if the topic was “funny” to her.

“It’s funny to me that you actually consider yourself a journal [sic],” Leavitt shot 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 bulls— questions,” the White House spokesperson wrote.

In her post on X, Leavitt added, “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.”

Leavitt went on to describe Dáte as “anti-Trump,” urging her supporters to “take a look at” his posts on the social media platform.

“Activists who masquerade as real reporters do a disservice to the profession,” she concluded.

However, it was her flippant response about Dáte’s mom that got the internet buzzing.

A screenshot of Leavitt’s post was shared widely on platforms like Reddit.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt (R) speaks during a press briefing in the Brady Press Briefing Room of the White House on October 06, 2025 in Washington, DC.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, October 2025.Anna Moneymaker/Getty

One user called the press secretary’s response “horrifying.”

“They are everything we teach our kids not to be, unless MAGA is telling their kids this is all fine coming from our nation’s highest office? We are in hell,” the person continued.

“They are immature and childish bullies in adult bodies who make fart jokes. I don’t see how anyone can take them seriously,” another added.

A third person said, “This is also their JOB. Can you imagine talking like this with external business partners? It’s wild.”

The White House did not immediately respond to PEOPLE’s request for comment.