It appears as if we were so caught up in our disdain for former Trump communications director Omarosa Manigault that we’ve overlooked another of his Uncle Tom-ish aides.
Top HUD official Lynne Patton entered the spotlight on Wednesday after referring to veteran White House reporter April Ryan as “Miss Piggy” after the two engaged in a Twitter back-and-forth. The war of words began after Ryan’s Sunday CNN appearance in which she, along with other journalists, shared they’ve received death threats because of her reporting on the White House. Over the weekend, a Michigan man threatened to kill CNN employees after accusing them of “fake news.”
Peep the exchange between Ryan and Patton below:
As a conservative black female who has publicly worked for & supported @realDonaldTrump, I’ve been getting death threats from fellow minorities on the left for the past 3 years – so welcome to the club, @AprilDRyan. pic.twitter.com/0EeG9pBesy
— 🇺🇸 Lynne Patton (@LynnePatton) January 21, 2018
@LynnePatton and who are you?
— AprilDRyan (@AprilDRyan) January 23, 2018
https://twitter.com/LynnePatton/status/956313823484497920
You are not revelant and so desire to be. Snoop may not be pleased with your use of him. He thinks your kind is wack. This one is for you! https://t.co/DB5jBxTBgK https://t.co/vTAa8gkp25
— AprilDRyan (@AprilDRyan) January 24, 2018
https://twitter.com/LynnePatton/status/956314866968559617
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
Do you also tape conversations like your girl Omarosa who might have a date with Mueller since she has so much to say. https://t.co/PBvzeg0xxv
— AprilDRyan (@AprilDRyan) January 25, 2018
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
Umm @LynnePattonHUD since when did I go bankrupt? Tell me cause I want to know. I find it fascinating you and your girl @Omarosa45 are concerned with my money when yours is questionable. Hmm! I can show my taxes. Can you?
— AprilDRyan (@AprilDRyan) January 25, 2018
Things only went downhill from there.
“I hear #Miss Piggys still on a rampage,” Patton wrote in a since-deleted tweet according to the Washington Examiner. “Gee, I must’ve struck a nerve, @AprilRyan! #BankruptBlogger.”
Patton previously served as an event planner for the president’s family before joining his administration. The Trump White House, who’s waged a war on left-leaning media, has had quite the contentious relationship with Ryan. In April, former White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer told Ryan to “stop shaking [her] head” as he gave a circuitous response to one of her questions. The White House also excluded Ryan from their holiday party for the first time in her career.
Patton apologized for the tweet on Wednesday night.
“I deleted my last tweet by choice,” she wrote in a tweet that was strangely accompanied by a picture of herself. “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.”
https://twitter.com/LynnePatton/status/956335497365852161
“Tonight, I made an inexcusable comment on my personal Twitter account that I deeply regret & deleted on my own volition,” Patton said in another tweet. “I sincerely apologize to @AprilDRyan. I also wish to apologize to my staff at @HUDNY_NJ, @SecretaryCarson & the #Trump family who deserved better leadership.”
https://twitter.com/LynnePattonHUD/status/956348422449254400?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw&ref_url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.washingtonexaminer.com%2Ftop-hud-official-apologizes-to-journalist-april-ryan-after-calling-her-miss-piggy%2Farticle%2F2647017
Armstrong Williams, another HUD official and Carson’s close friend, also apologized on Patton’s behalf.
I have known @AprilDRyan for 25 years. No one should be shamed and she has my profound apologies. I spoke with Dr. Carson and he was deeply disappointed by what occurred. He tried reaching out to April this morning, but wasn’t able to reach her. He offers his deepest apologies.
— Armstrong Williams (@Arightside) January 25, 2018
Ryan responded to the outreach via Twitter.
Thank you. Sorry I missed your call. I want to talk with Dr Carson about this when he has time today! Thank you @Arightside and @RealBenCarson for the Apology! https://t.co/diM5klfSPX
— AprilDRyan (@AprilDRyan) January 25, 2018
Patton’s, whose Twitter timeline is filled with pro-Trump posts and re-tweets from her boss and his two older sons, emergence into the news cycles appears rather timely. Just a month ago, Manigault stepped down from her position at the White House.