White House Communications Director Steven Cheung engaged in a heated exchange on X with a staffer for Senator Mark Warner (D-Va.), culminating in Cheung using an offensive slur. The confrontation began on Monday when Cheung took issue with Rachel Cohen, Warner's communications director, questioning CNN's decision to interview Tricia McLaughlin, a former Department of Homeland Security spokesperson and Trump ally.
Initial Criticism Sparks Conflict
Cohen, whose adult daughter recently passed away after a long battle with juvenile diabetes, posted on X: "WHY is CNN interviewing Tricia McLaughlin right now? She is easily the most mendacious spokesperson I've had the displeasure of encountering in 15 years of doing this. What could she POSSIBLY have to say that adds to viewers' understanding of anything??"
Cheung quote-posted Cohen's remarks and responded dismissively: "Don't be jealous you'll never get booked on TV because you're a loser." He praised McLaughlin as "one of the best communicators around" and suggested Cohen "can learn a thing or two from her," adding, "But you won't because, again, you're a loser."
Cohen Fires Back
Cohen retaliated by recalling a past incident, writing: "Hey Steven, remember the time you were so bad at your job the West Wing called to ask us to intervene with the media to protect national security? Because you couldn't get it done? I was told you were the one handling that story. I'd be happy to teach you how to do it next time!"
Cheung then escalated the exchange by replying with an offensive slur: "Hey retard, you must be thinking of someone else. Nobody would ask your simple ass for help."
History of Aggressive Tactics
Cheung has a well-documented history of using aggressive, Trump-style attacks against the president's critics and media members who pose challenging questions, including HuffPost's S. V. Date. Former President Donald Trump himself has also used the R-word slur on multiple occasions in the past.
