White House Communications Chief Draws Fire Over Alleged Online Attack on Adam Kinzinger

White House Communications Director Steven Cheung sparked a firestorm of controversy Thursday after making an inflammatory claim about former Republican congressman Adam Kinzinger, suggesting that the ex-lawmaker may have secretly used a gay dating app.

The allegation surfaced during a heated back-and-forth on X (formerly Twitter) between Cheung and Kinzinger, 47, a married father of one who has long been one of President Donald Trump’s most outspoken Republican critics.

Kinzinger, who broke ranks with his party to vote for Trump’s impeachment in 2021 following the January 6 Capitol riot, has remained an active voice against the former president. His latest post questioned Trump’s decision to demolish the East Wing of the White House to make room for a new ballroom — a move that has drawn both admiration and ridicule online.

“Will not a single elected Republican speak up?” Kinzinger wrote in a post accompanied by a video of the demolition.

Cheung, known for his aggressive online persona and combative defense of the administration, swiftly fired back.

“The ballroom is going to look so spectacular. Even your simple and dumb ass will want to go,” Cheung replied.

The exchange quickly escalated. In response to Cheung’s jab, Kinzinger posted a zoomed-in photo of the communications director’s face with the caption, “literally you.”

Within hours, Cheung retaliated with a far more provocative post. He shared a collage of photos — one featuring Kinzinger and his wife alongside several partially nude images of an unidentified man — implying that Kinzinger had posted explicit photos on a gay dating platform.

The insinuation immediately triggered a backlash on social media, with journalists, commentators, and users accusing Cheung of crossing a line and engaging in personal smear tactics unbecoming of a senior White House official.

While Cheung did not provide evidence to substantiate his claim, the post was viewed millions of times before being deleted. Neither the White House nor Kinzinger’s representatives responded to media inquiries about the exchange.

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Rumors Revived by Trump Allies

The episode reignited old rumors that have circulated in pro-Trump online circles since 2021 — that Kinzinger allegedly maintained a profile on a gay dating site. These claims, which have never been verified, resurfaced after Cheung’s post gained traction.

Alex Bruesewitz, a former Trump campaign aide and informal adviser to the president, amplified Cheung’s remarks, writing on X:

“Why has no reporter ever asked @AdamKinzinger about his Snapchat scandal? Is there more to it? Did Democrats find something out about Adam’s private life and use it as leverage to get him to become a far-left lunatic? We need answers!”

Media watchdogs and LGBTQ advocates swiftly condemned the remarks as an attempt to weaponize sexual orientation for political attacks.

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A History of Intra-Party Feuds

The online clash was only the latest in a long-running feud between Kinzinger and Trump’s inner circle, dating back to the Illinois Republican’s vote to impeach the president.

Kinzinger and former Wyoming Rep. Liz Cheney were the only two Republicans to serve on the House committee investigating the January 6 riot — a decision that alienated them from the GOP mainstream. Both were formally censured by the Republican National Committee in 2022, a move that further cemented their break with party leadership.

At the time, Cheney said the GOP had become “willing hostages to a man who admits he tried to overturn a presidential election.”

“I’m a constitutional conservative and I do not recognize those in my party who have abandoned the Constitution to embrace Donald Trump,” Cheney said. “History will be their judge.”

Kinzinger struck a similar tone following the censure, calling the decision “a symptom of the toxic tribalism consuming American politics.”

“Rather than focus on helping the American people, my fellow Republicans have chosen to punish lifelong members of their own party for upholding their oaths of office,” Kinzinger said. “They’ve allowed conspiracies and blind loyalty to distort their judgment.”

Since leaving Congress, Kinzinger has become a political commentator and frequent guest on major news networks, often warning about what he sees as the growing extremism within his former party.

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Online Fallout and Political Optics

Cheung’s comments quickly became one of the most talked-about topics on political social media, drawing criticism even from some Republican strategists who said the attack undermined the administration’s credibility.

Political communications experts noted that the episode reflected a broader deterioration in online political discourse, where personal smears and innuendo often eclipse policy discussions.

“We’ve reached a point where personal attacks are being used as political strategy,” said media analyst Dr. Mariah Benson. “It’s not just unprofessional — it’s corrosive to the public’s faith in government.”

Despite the uproar, Cheung has not issued an apology or retraction, and the White House has remained silent on the matter. As of Friday, Kinzinger had also not addressed the incident publicly.

The controversy underscores the enduring rift between Trump’s allies and the small but vocal faction of Republicans who continue to oppose him — a divide that shows little sign of healing ahead of the 2028 election cycle.