Leavitt's full tweet criticized an ABC News item about a reported threat to California, saying the story relied on a single unverified tip sent to local law enforcement. She called on ABC to retract the report and added, "TO BE CLEAR: No such threat from Iran to our homeland exists, and it never did."
Critics in the replies urged Owens to show the full exchange, arguing the clipped post changed the apparent meaning. The episode rekindled debate over context and online political attacks.