Who is SV Dáte? Karoline Leavitt slams Huffington reporter

On October 21, 2025, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt criticized HuffPost journalist SV Dáte, calling his questions about Donald Trump’s meeting with Vladimir Putin “biased” and “dishonest.” The exchange quickly went viral on X (formerly Twitter), reigniting the debate about fairness in political reporting.

Dáte had texted Leavitt, asking if President Trump was “aware of the significance of Budapest” — referring to the 1994 Budapest Memorandum, where Ukraine gave up its nuclear weapons in exchange for Russia’s security guarantees. He also questioned who chose Budapest as the meeting location, suggesting it could be controversial for Ukraine.

Leavitt responded sharply, replying, “Your mom did,” followed by a message accusing Dáte of being a “far-left hack.” She later shared screenshots of the exchange online, calling him an activist “masquerading as a journalist.”

“Just take a look at @svdate’s feed. It reads like an anti-Trump personal diary,” she wrote on X. “Activists who pretend to be reporters hurt journalism.”

Dáte later replied publicly: “Feel better now? Now can you answer the question? Please and thank you.”

Who is SV Dáte?

SV Dáte is a veteran American political journalist with over 30 years of experience. He currently serves as the Senior White House Correspondent for HuffPost and has previously worked with NPR, Associated Press, The Palm Beach Post, and National Journal.

A graduate of Stanford University with a degree in political science, Dáte is also an author. His book, The Useful Idiot, critiques Trump’s handling of the COVID-19 pandemic and explores his impact on the Republican Party.

Beyond journalism, Dáte is also an avid sailor, having covered more than 35,000 ocean miles across the Atlantic and Mediterranean with his two sons during a two-year voyage.

Media and politics: a growing divide

This public clash between Leavitt and Dáte reflects the ongoing tension between Trump’s communications team and mainstream journalists. While Leavitt accuses some media members of promoting anti-Trump narratives, reporters like Dáte say they’re holding those in power accountable.

The incident shows how political polarization now extends beyond party lines — it’s reshaping journalism itself.