The White House has attacked a respected journalist and referenced her children, calling her a “callous and vindictive parent”, after she asked US President Donald Trump a question.

CNN’s Kristen Holmes, a senior White House correspondent, asked Trump to respond to a comment from Democrat senator Jon Ossoff about Trump’s female executive assistant amid scrutiny over their apparent closeness.

Trump responded in person in the Oval Office, snapping: “Quiet, quiet, quiet. You’re very disrespectful.

“Fake news, you’re fake news, you’re a loud boisterous person. You’re fake news. Be quiet. Be quiet. You’re a fake reporter and you report fake news.”

Later, the White House’s Rapid Response social media account tagged Holmes in a post, calling her a “disgraceful, humiliating embarrassment to her alleged profession”.

The White House followed up with another attack accusing of Holmes of “taking a cheap shot about one of President Trump’s staffers”.

“Someday, your children will come across your disgusting and inhumane question,” the White House posted on X.

“They will be sickened and embarrassed to have a parent be so callous and vindictive. It’s quite troubling.”

Holmes had been asking Trump to respond to Ossoff’s speech on Sunday in which he said Trump “doesn’t want to do the job” but wants to “build his ballroom and travel with Natalie on their apparently defenceless flying palace gifted by the emir of Qatar”.

Natalie Harp is the president’s executive assistant.

CNN defended Holmes and her “tough, relevant, and newsworthy question”, calling her “one of the most respected and accomplished journalists covering the White House”.

“Public officials are free to challenge reporting they disagree with, but personal attacks on journalists for asking questions are beneath the office and inconsistent with the principles of a free press.”