CNN Star Fires Back at Trump Goons for Calling Her ‘Hot Mess’
The White House told the reporter she was “embarrassing yourself all for some social media clicks.”
Acclaimed war correspondent Clarissa Ward, 46, clapped back at the White House after they called her a “hot mess” on social media.
After Ward shared a video of herself dancing in an airport on Instagram, the White House’s Rapid Response 47 X account responded with, “Imagine being a self-described ‘serious’ journalist at CNN and acting like a complete freak in public, embarrassing yourself all for some social media clicks. Honey, nobody wants to watch that hot mess.”
Hours later, Ward commented on their post, “Dancing is good for the soul.”

Ward responded to The White House's attempt to scold her. X/@clarissaward
X/@clarissaward
Ward’s initial caption read, “When you get an assignment that is just good fun…. Feeling PUMPED! Can you tell?“
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Various social media users pointed out the hypocritical nature of MAGA attacking Ward’s dancing. Given Trump’s history of busting out cringey dance moves on global stages, his administration’s criticism of Ward felt especially desperate.

Trump's White House called award-winning warzone reporter Clarissa Ward a "complete freak." X/@RapidResponse47
X/@RapidResponse47
Ward has reported from war zones for several major networks for about 20 years, including in Syria, Iraq, Iran, Afghanistan, Gaza, Yemen, Ukraine, and Georgia, her CNN bio says, and she’s collected an impressive slate of distinguished awards, including 12 Emmys, for her pivotal reporting.
“If anyone has ‘earned’ the right to blow off a little steam, have some fun, and dance LIKE no one is watching,” one user wrote, “it’s @clarissaward.”
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