When a White House Reporter Asks Questions, Insults Follow

In Washington, criticism is a professional hazard for journalists. But for Shirish Dáte, a veteran reporter covering the White House for HuffPost, the attacks have taken a distinctly personal turn.

When Dáte reaches out for comment from Trump administration officials, he often receives not answers but mockery. The latest exchange — a sharp retort to his question about the president’s meeting with Vladimir Putin — exploded across social media.

• “Your mom did,” texted press secretary Karoline Leavitt, followed seconds later by communications director Steven Cheung adding.
• “Your mom,” in what became an internet punchline.

Dáte, 61, wasn’t amused. “This is a serious war that has killed tens of thousands,” he said. “And that’s the response?”

A Reporter Against the Tide

Dáte, who joined HuffPost in 2016 after decades at regional and national outlets, covers Donald Trump from a progressive perspective. In a briefing room now populated by conservative-friendly networks, he’s often isolated.

For years, Trump and his aides have labeled the press “fake” or “nasty,” but their open hostility toward Dáte has been unusually personal. When he asked about Putin’s meeting location, Leavitt called him a “far-left hack.” Later, Cheung sent him texts filled with insults about his appearance and intelligence.

• “In nine years, have I ever insulted you?” Dáte replied.
• “You’re being a moron,” Cheung shot back.

Inside HuffPost’s Approach

At HuffPost, Dáte’s independence is by design. Political editor Kevin Robillard says Dáte’s focus on Trump isn’t driven by ideology, but by alarm over what he sees as “breaks from precedent.” Editor in chief Whitney Snyder called the administration’s reaction “ridiculous” and “proof that he’s hitting a nerve.”

The friction even boosted the outlet’s numbers. After Leavitt shared the “your mom” exchange on X, HuffPost’s membership revenue rose 66 percent in one day. The site turned the insult into a cheeky campaign:

“MAGA Makes ‘Your Mom’ Jokes. We Make Headlines.”

The Journalist Behind the Story

Born in Pune, India, and raised in the U.S. by doctor parents, Dáte was drawn to journalism early. From covering small-town crime in Middletown, New York, to state politics in Florida, he built a career on persistence. After years at The Associated Press and The Palm Beach Post, he even spent two years sailing the Atlantic with his family before returning to political reporting in Washington.

Now, as he continues covering Trump’s legal challenges and campaign, Dáte says his goal is simple: to inform readers, not provoke outrage. “Our audience doesn’t need to be told how to feel about Trump,” he said. “They deserve to know exactly why they do.”