White House communications chief hurls racial slur at Daily Beast executive over press secretary exit

White House communications director Steven Cheung, 44, used a racial slur in a written reply to Daily Beast chief content officer Joanna Coles after the outlet’s podcast examined the reasons behind press secretary Karoline Leavitt’s planned exit. The podcast, featuring Coles and executive editor Hugh Dougherty, suggested both personal and institutional factors beyond Leavitt’s stated desire to spend more time with family.

When one outlet reporter asked for a response, Cheung typed that Coles was a "r----d" who lacked any understanding of White House operations. This is not Cheung’s first use of the slur; he previously applied it to a congressperson, a Senate aide, and has a history of insulting Daily Beast staff, including misgendering a male reporter and calling the outlet “mentally challenged, lightweight.” The White House’s spokesperson Davis Ingle has also disparaged the publication, labeling it a “lightweight, glue-sniffing ‘reporters.’” The exchange underscores ongoing tensions between the administration and media outlets critical of its actions.