Table of Contents
- Who Is Shirish Dáte?
- White House Insults Escalate
- HuffPost’s Response
- Broader Media Climate Under Trump
- Sources
Who Is Shirish Dáte?
Shirish Dáte (pronounced dah-tay), 61, is a veteran journalist and White House correspondent for HuffPost. Born in Pune, India, and raised in the U.S. from toddlerhood, Dáte began his career at The Times Herald-Record in Middletown, New York. He later covered Florida politics for The Orlando Sentinel, The Associated Press, and The Palm Beach Post before moving to Washington, D.C.—not by plane, but aboard a 44-foot sailboat during a two-and-a-half-year trans-Atlantic journey funded by his own novels.
Dáte joined HuffPost in 2016 after stints at mainstream outlets like National Journal. Unlike many of his peers, he focuses almost exclusively on Donald Trump—even during the Biden administration—tracking legal developments, Jan. 6 fallout, and what he calls “massive shifts in presidential precedent.”
White House Insults Escalate
What sets Dáte apart isn’t just his beat—it’s how the Trump White House treats him. While the administration has long criticized the press as “fake,” “nasty,” or “dying,” Dáte receives uniquely personal and juvenile rebukes.
After President Trump announced plans to meet Vladimir Putin in Budapest, Dáte asked who recommended the Hungarian capital. The response? Karoline Leavitt, White House press secretary, texted: “Your mom did.” Moments later, communications director Steven Cheung echoed: “Your mom.”
Leavitt later posted the exchange on X (formerly Twitter), calling Dáte a “far left hack who nobody takes seriously, including your colleagues in the media.” In another incident, Cheung sent an expletive-laden message mocking Dáte’s physical stature and masculinity—prompting Dáte to reply: “In nine years, have I ever insulted you?” Cheung’s comeback: “You’re being a moron.”
“I’ve covered Jeb Bush, local crime, statehouses—you name it,” Dáte said. “But never like this.”
HuffPost’s Response
Far from backing down, HuffPost leaned into the moment. The outlet launched a membership drive with the tagline: “MAGA Makes ‘Your Mom’ Jokes. We Make Headlines.” The campaign worked—on the day Leavitt posted the exchange, HuffPost saw a 66% spike in reader contributions.
Whitney Snyder, editor-in-chief, dismissed the White House’s behavior: “Their response to Shirish was ridiculous, but it doesn’t bother us. Maybe he’s gotten under their skin.”
Broader Media Climate Under Trump
Dáte’s experience reflects a wider trend: progressive journalists face heightened hostility in a briefing room increasingly dominated by right-wing, pro-Trump outlets. Yet HuffPost retains its seat and continues its rotation coverage of Trump events.
Kevin Robillard, HuffPost’s political editor, emphasized that Dáte’s concern isn’t partisan—it’s institutional. “He’s alarmed not because Trump is a Republican,” Robillard said, “but because his actions break from precedent in dangerous ways.”
For Dáte, the mission remains clear: “I hope my stories have informed [readers] as to why they might oppose him.”
Sources
The New York Times: “When This Reporter Comes Calling, the White House Insults Go Flying”
