While speaking with reporters including NPR reporter, age 42 Danielle Kurtzleben at a military airport, President Donald Trump was recently struck by a microphone in the face
After giving Danielle Kurtzleben, a “death stare” and acknowledging that the reporter had become a major story tonight, Donald Trump did not ignore the situation.
“Did you see that?” Trump said reacting to the little accident as he was about the situation in Gaza. “She just became a big story tonight,” he said.
The event occurred while Donald Trump was speaking to reporters on a tarmac, which is a typical location for spontaneous press conferences. Danielle Kurtzleben, according to Loomer, used a boom microphone that struck the president’s face.
Who is Danielle Kurtzleben, NPR White House reporter who hit Donald Trump in the face with microphone, bio, age, husband, career and education
Although it’s still unclear if the conduct was unintentional or intentional, Loomer’s posts on X swiftly painted it as a calculated action by a journalist who was “anti-Trump.”
🚨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… pic.twitter.com/dgViKT8wdA
— Laura Loomer (@LauraLoomer) March 16, 2025
Kurtzleben restricted public access to her posts and stoked more rumours by locking her X account within hours.
The revelation was revealed on March 16 by Loomer, a strong Trump supporter, who said Kurtzleben’s track record of critical reporting on Trump and her support for progressive causes, such as LGBTQ rights, indicated a blatant ideological bent.
Age 42 Danielle Kurtzleben is a political correspondent assigned to NPR’s Washington Desk and appears on NPR shows, writes for the web, and is a regular on The NPR Politics Podcast. She also covered the 2024 presidential election, with particular focuses on on economic policy and gender politics. While details about her relationship status or partner aren’t known, she gave birth to a baby back in 2023.
Before joining NPR in 2015, Kurtzleben spent a year as a correspondent for Vox.com and as part of the site’s original reporting team, she covered economics and business news.
Prior to Vox.com, Kurtzleben was with U.S. News & World Report for nearly four years, where she covered the economy, campaign finance and demographic issues and as associate editor, she launched Data Mine, a data visualization blog on usnews.com.
A native of Titonka, Iowa, Kurtzleben has a bachelor’s degree in English from Carleton College and also holds a master’s degree in global communication from George Washington University’s Elliott School of International Affairs.
Danielle Kurtzleben
Experienced reporter Danielle Kurtzleben began covering the White House for NPR in early 2025. She contributed to reports on elections, policy discussions, and cultural changes while covering political and economic beats for the publication before taking on this position.
Danielle Kurtzleben, the NPR 'journalist', who purposely hit Trump in the face with a microphone should have her White House clearance revoked immediately and shouldn't be allowed near the President ever again. pic.twitter.com/v51kSTTuEg
— Tucker Carlson Network 🇺🇸 Fan Account (@TCNetworkFans) March 16, 2025
Kurtzleben, a native of Detroit, Michigan, is known for his in-depth reporting, frequently concentrating on the relationship between identity and policy. She has recently covered the Trump administration’s executive orders and how they affect federal employees, particularly those who identify as inters*x, transgender, and nonbinary.
Over the course of her multi-year tenure at NPR, Kurtzleben has contributed to the network’s broader political coverage. Her work has been included in internet platforms and NPR broadcasts, where she has conducted interviews with influential people and examined significant legislative actions.
She developed her abilities in data-driven journalism and narrative storytelling while working as a reporter and editor prior to joining NPR.
🚨 VIA @LauraLoomer: The NPR reporter who hit President Trump with a Boom Mic on the tarmac is Danielle Kurtzleben (@titonka).
She’s a new White House correspondent, a Trump critic, and LGBTQ advocate who once tried to "Frame" Trump’s Howell, Michigan rally to the KKK & White… pic.twitter.com/Y166F9pRWA
— Publius (@OcrazioCornPop) March 16, 2025