The official White House X account mocked a congresswoman’s hair hours after Karoline Leavitt begged for an end to hateful rhetoric

The official White House X account sparked outrage after it mocked Connecticut Rep. Rosa DeLauro’s hair. This happened just hours after White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt called for an end to hateful rhetoric following an attempted shooting at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner. The contrast between Leavitt’s public plea and the account’s behavior was not lost on many people watching closely.

According to The Daily Beast, the White House was responding to a post by EPA administrator Lee Zeldin, who criticized Rep. DeLauro over her stance on climate change. The White House’s reply read, “Terrible take. Even worse hair,” which was widely seen as a personal attack on the congresswoman rather than a response to her actual political positions.

This is not the first time the account has drawn criticism. Back in January, the White House was called out for posting a digitally altered image of a woman who had been arrested during an ICE protest in Minnesota. The account has 4.5 million followers, and its pattern of posting inflammatory content has been a recurring issue since the start of the administration.

The White House’s personal attacks on women reflect a troubling pattern that goes beyond political disagreement

Just hours before the hair comment was posted, Leavitt spoke out against hateful rhetoric after an attempted shooting at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner. She said that the constant violence and demonization of President Trump was having a dark impact on the country. Reports revealed that Trump refused to leave when shots were fired at the WHCA dinner, stunning those around him with what he said he wanted to do next.

President Trump himself has a long history of making personal attacks on women based on their looks. He has frequently targeted comedian Rosie O’Donnell, calling her “fat,” a “pig,” and a “slob.” In November, he told White House reporter Catherine Lucey to “Quiet, piggy,” while aboard Air Force One. These comments have drawn repeated criticism from lawmakers and media figures across the political spectrum.

Trump has also regularly insulted female reporters during press interactions, calling them “stupid,” “aggressive,” “rotten,” or “the worst.” His attacks on women go well beyond just comments about their appearance, often targeting their intelligence and professional credibility as well.

The timing of the White House X account’s comment about Rep. DeLauro’s hair made the situation particularly notable. Leavitt had just publicly asked for civility and an end to hateful language, yet the official account of the administration she represents posted a personal jab at a lawmaker within the same day.

Many pointed out that the administration cannot credibly call for an end to hateful rhetoric while its own official accounts engage in the same behavior. Rep. DeLauro, who has served in Congress since 1991 and is one of the most recognizable figures in the Democratic Party, has not been known for engaging in this kind of personal back-and-forth.

The decision to target her appearance rather than her political record raised questions about what the White House hoped to achieve with the comment. The White House has not addressed the contradiction between Leavitt’s call for an end to hateful rhetoric and the account’s comment about Rep. DeLauro’s hair.

As long as the administration’s official social media presence continues to post this kind of content, the credibility of its calls for civility will remain in question. Meanwhile, Trump has also been making aggressive moves on other fronts, including ordering the Navy to sink mine-laying boats in the Strait of Hormuz, though questions remain about the details of that order.