Pentagon reacts harshly to reporter asking about Hegseth’s tricolor tie

When a journalist asked Scharnell whether Hegseth was aware of the positive reaction from Russians and if he had worn the tie before, the spokesperson responded with a prepared line: “Your mom bought it for him — and it’s a patriotic American tie, idiot.”

A HuffPost representative then asked whether Hegseth knew that, under the U.S. Flag Code, the national flag cannot be used as clothing, bedding, or decoration.

“If loving your country enough to represent it from head to toe is a crime in the eyes of the leftist blog known as HuffPost, then consider Secretary Hegseth guilty. He’s a patriot who honors this nation and our flag,” the Pentagon replied.

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt on Oct. 20 shared a screenshot of her controversial exchange with Huffington Post journalist S.V. Date, responding to his question with a vulgar “joke” about his mother.

On Oct. 17, Leavitt reacted oddly to a question about why the anticipated meeting between U.S. President Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin would take place in Budapest.

When HuffPost’s Date asked who chose the Hungarian capital for the summit, she replied, “Your mother.”

Moments later, White House communications director Steven Cheung responded the same way: “Your mother.”