We all know that for the most part, the mainstream media is just another arm of the Democratic Party.
Having said that, the White House communications team still needs to observe some degree of decorum when dealing with the press, if for no other reason than to appear to be the proverbial bigger person.
Donald Trump’s team has been taking some big hits as of late, but a text stream between White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt and a journalist now has people wondering if she is taking things too far.
Not long after Trump returned to office, there was a major shakeup at the White House in terms of which reporters and outlets would have access.
For instance, the Associated Press, Reuters, and Bloomberg historically enjoyed a rotating spot in the briefing room, but that was revoked.
The administration also announced that it was going to start incorporating more alternative media representatives into the rotation.
The White House announced, “Outlets will be eligible for participation in the Pool, irrespective of the substantive viewpoint expressed by an outlet.”
Recently, Secretary of War Pete Hegseth announced that reporters would no longer have access to the Pentagon unless they agreed to sign a document signifying that they would not publish any material unless it was approved in advance.
Hegseth said this was an effort to stop leaks, but the media, rightfully so, pushed back on the policy.
There are now only about 15 news outlets that have direct access to the Pentagon briefings, as dozens of news services balked at the idea of giving the War Department approval rights over their content.
As a journalist, I can tell you flat-out that I would never agree to this. And before you come back at me, just remember, both sides can play this way. My question is to ask how we would feel if the other side were doing this? We would all claim censorship or a violation of the freedom of the press, which is why I am against this policy.
Leavitt got into a tiff with HuffPost correspondent S.V. Date, as she did not like a line of questioning from the reporter regarding a location chosen for peace talks between Russia and Ukraine.
The question, in my eyes, was a legitimate one, as Ukraine was also pushing back against the location of the talks. Date asked, “Is the president aware of the significance of Budapest? In 1994, Russia promised, in Budapest, not to invade Ukraine if it gave up the nuclear weapons it inherited when the Soviet Union dissolved. Does he not see why Ukraine might object to that site? Who suggested Budapest?”
Again, the question seems legitimate to me, as it seemed like a genuine background inquiry. But instead of answering the question seriously, Leavitt responded, “Your mom did.” What asked her if she thought that was funny, Leavitt went off, responding, “It’s funny to me that you actually consider yourself a journal [sic]. 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.” She then added, “Stop texting me your disingenuous, biased, and bulls–t questions.”
Leavitt has issues with Date because of his previous attacks against Trump, but in her current role, she cannot hold a grudge and must remain professional. Again, I think the question was a legit one that could have easily been answered, but Leavitt was looking for the headline, and she got it. I know my opinion here may not be the most popular one, but I am fighting hard to get the adults back into the room and for this childish behavior to stop.
If Leavitt did not like the question, she could have come back at him with a clean response that would have served the same purpose. I just think she hurts her credibility and that of this administration by offering a retort that most of us used in the 6th grade… “your mom.”
