In a curious turn of events, NPR reporter Danielle Kurtzleben has deleted her X account “@titonka” right after being named by Laura Loomer as the reporter who “bopped” President Donald Trump with a boom mic. This incident happened on Friday as Trump was addressing the press on the tarmac before departing on Air Force One.
The veteran reporter’s last byline appeared on NPR the same day Loomer’s explosive revelation was published. Loomer’s post has been viewed over 8 million times, stirring a whirlwind of interest and speculation:
SCOOP
I have identified the reporter who hit President @realDonaldTrump in the face with a boom mic this week while he was speaking to the press on the tarmac.
Her name is Danielle Kurtzleben @titonka. She is the newly appointed White House reporter for @NPR and a massive…
— Laura Loomer (@LauraLoomer)
March 16, 2025
As the press pool gathered, Trump was asked about Gaza by another reporter when the boom mic caught him off guard. While visibly annoyed, he humorously remarked, “She just made television tonight. She just became a big story tonight, right? Did you see that?”
News Nation’s Kellie Meyer shared video evidence from the incident, capturing a faint apology from a woman:
President Trump got hit in the face by a boom mic at Joint Base Andrews.
He gave a look and joked “she just became a big story tonight.”
— Kellie Meyer (@KellieMeyerNews)
March 14, 2025
NPR has yet to comment publicly on the incident, neither have they responded to direct inquiries. The White House Correspondents’ Association and the Secret Service remain silent on potential follow-up actions or investigations.
Notably, no questions were raised at press briefings regarding the incident, highlighting the lack of accountability compared to past events. The Daily Mail reported Kurtzleben is “in hiding,” with no response from NPR on her current status.
Kurtzleben’s Substack remains active, though her latest post dates back to March 8. Her profile notes a penchant for discussing “penis politics,” which aligns with her distinct brand. A teaser from a prior article humorously emphasizes her unique style:
You may have heard that Donald Trump recently talked about Arnold Palmer’s penis in a campaign speech. I certainly did. My brand (which is more or less “penis politics”) is strong, and so once the remark happened, peo…
This intriguing episode leaves many questions unanswered, but one thing remains clear: in the world of journalism, accountability should not be overshadowed by silence or favoritism.
