Trump HUD official apologizes for tweet mocking journalist

A top official in President Trump’s Department of Housing and Urban Development apologized Wednesday after mocking journalist April Ryan in a tweet.

In the since-deleted tweet, Lynne Patton, who heads the HUD region that encompasses New York and New Jersey, referred to Ryan as “Miss Piggy” and labeled her a “bankrupt blogger.”

A now deleted tweet from head of @HUDgov New York & New Jersey @LynnePatton pic.twitter.com/Z2fx2O5PWo

— Jacqueline Alemany (@JaxAlemany) January 25, 2018

Patton later deleted the tweet, saying it was “beneath me” and apologizing to Ryan both from her personal and HUD twitter accounts

{mosads}“I deleted my last tweet by choice.  No one from this Administration contacted me.  It was beneath me & I apologize to @AprilDRyan,” Patton wrote. “My parents raised me to respect others & I regret my response. I apologize to them, @SecretaryCarson & the Trump family. They deserved better.” 

Tonight, I made an inexcusable comment on my personal Twitter account that I deeply regret & deleted on my own volition. I sincerely apologize to @AprilDRyan. I also wish to apologize to my staff at @HUDNY_NJ, @SecretaryCarson & the #Trump family who deserved better leadership. pic.twitter.com/dpQAd2F2rC

— Lynne Patton (HUD) (@LynnePattonHUD) January 25, 2018

I deleted my last tweet by choice. No one from this Administration contacted me. It was beneath me & I apologize to @AprilDRyan. My parents raised me to respect others & I regret my response. I apologize to them, @SecretaryCarson & the Trump family. They deserved better. pic.twitter.com/MOWkRhOLnN

— Lynne Patton (@LynnePatton) January 25, 2018

Patton posted the original tweet from her personal account after a series of other tweets slamming Ryan. 

This, coming from a blogger working for a bankrupt outlet. pic.twitter.com/Vdhuy4sVji

— Lynne Patton (@LynnePatton) January 24, 2018

This, coming from a blogger working for a bankrupt outlet. pic.twitter.com/LBeXga7BQv

— Lynne Patton (@LynnePatton) January 24, 2018

Ryan, who works as the White House correspondent for American Urban Radio Networks, replied to Patton’s original tweets, telling Patton to “kick rocks.”

Kick rocks little girl. Find a job! @LynnePatton I ain’t the one! Girl bye. Blogger girl I do news. What do you do? Do you work at HUD or play at it you washed up wedding planner. Girl bye! https://t.co/YtfF4QHzy5

— AprilDRyan (@AprilDRyan) January 25, 2018

Fake info girl! Check your facts. I work for American Urban Radio Networks not Sheridan! Whose wedding are you planning now and what wig company do you work for? https://t.co/YtfF4QHzy5

— AprilDRyan (@AprilDRyan) January 24, 2018

Patton was appointed to her role at HUD last June after previously serving as a longtime event planner for the Trump family. She was also a  vice president at the Eric Trump Foundation from 2011 through January 2017.