White House Tells CNN’s Kristen Holmes Her Children Will Be ‘Sickened’ by Her for Asking About Trump Aide Natalie Harp

President Donald Trump blasted CNN’s Kristen Holmes during a press briefing at the Oval Office on Monday, Aug. 17. Following the clash, the White House’s Rapid Response 47 account on X wrote that Holmes’ children will be ‘sickened and embarrassed’ by the questions she asked Trump.

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Donald Trump clashed with CNN’s Kristen Holmes after she asked about his closeness with aide Natalie Harp

Trump’s team criticized Holmes on social media, calling her questions “disrespectful” and attacking her professionalism

CNN argued Holmes is a respected journalist, while condemning the personal attacks as inconsistent with a free press

President Donald Trump and his team have lashed out after an interaction with CNN correspondent Kristen Holmes.

During a press event at the White House on Monday, Aug. 17, Holmes, 40, asked the 80-year-old president if the North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un had requested he “scale back” U.S. military exercises with South Korea.

The question came a day after he spoke about having a “very good relationship” with Jong Un on Truth Social.

“Quiet, you’re very disrespectful,” Trump told Holmes before discovering the news outlet she worked for. “You’re a loud, boisterous person. You’re fake news. Be quiet,” he then added.

When Holmes tried to follow up on her question, Trump spoke over her, saying, “Be quiet! Be quiet! Be quiet! You’re a fake reporter and you report fake news.”

The press event was held to honor teenage lifeguard Ryder Williams, who rescued a 10-year-old boy on a California beach in July. At one point, Trump said, “Quiet — you’re very disrespectful in front of this young man, okay?”

The White House’s digital communications team continued the clash on their Rapid Response 47 account on X as they posted a clip of Holmes asking Trump about his closeness to executive assistant Natalie Harp.

“[Democratic Georgia Senator] Jon Ossoff said that you would rather travel with your aide, Natalie Harp and build a ballroom than do your job as president. What is your response?” Holmes is heard asking in the clip.

Ossoff made the viral comment raised by Holmes earlier that day at a campaign rally, referencing reports that Harp writes doting letters to the president and rarely leaves his side.

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Trump described Ossoff, 39, as a “Pee-wee Herman” lookalike before responding to Holmes with his explanation for why the ballroom is being built.

Commenting on the clip on X, Rapid Response 47 wrote, “.@KristenhCNN is a disgraceful, humiliating embarrassment to her alleged profession. @POTUS hosts a hero lifeguard in the Oval Office and she uses it as an opportunity to take a cheap shot about one of President Trump’s staffers. These scumbags are the lowest of the low.”

“@KristenhCNN: Someday, your children will come across your disgusting and inhumane question. They will be sickened and embarrassed to have a parent be so callous and vindictive. It’s quite troubling,” the account on X added.

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CNN defended Holmes in a statement on X following the attack on social media.

“Kristen Holmes is one of the most respected and accomplished journalists covering the White House,” a CNN spokesperson said in the statement. “This afternoon, she did her job and asked the President of the United States a tough, relevant, and newsworthy question on behalf of the American people.”

“Public officials are free to challenge reporting they disagree with, but personal attacks on journalists for asking questions are beneath the office and inconsistent with the principles of a free press,” the statement added. “We stand firmly behind Kristen and reject these attacks in the strongest possible terms.”

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