Journalist-Turned-Politician Ducks Questions, Deletes Posts Amid Scrutiny Over Background, Ferrari, Dating Site Presence

CONCORD, NH — Political newcomer and former Capitol Hill reporter Hanna Trudo is facing new scrutiny after declining to answer questions about her background, lifestyle, and potential congressional ambitions following her public engagement with a popular conservative podcast.

The Ruthless Variety Program, known for its biting political commentary, revealed last week that Trudo had reached out to them on social media, inviting a dialogue after announcing she was exploring a run for Congress in New Hampshire's 1st District. But after repeated efforts to schedule an interview — including direct messages and public invitations — the show’s hosts say Trudeau went silent.

“She said she wanted to talk,” said co-host Josh Holmes, noting she publicly posted that her DMs were open. “Then she ghosted.”

That silence sparked an on-air segment filled with pointed questions about the candidate’s authenticity and motives — along with some of the most outlandish speculation and commentary to hit an undeclared candidate in recent memory.

The Ruthless crew, which includes former political operatives and conservative commentators, pressed Trudeau’s claimed “working class” roots against what they described as “curious lifestyle choices.” Among them:

• A deleted Instagram photo shoot in what appeared to be a Manhattan location, dressed in a ballgown. The post was reportedly taken down after being referenced on the show.

• An Instagram story offering to sell a Ferrari from Miami, with Trudo asking for help “crowdsourcing luxury buyers” — an odd juxtaposition with her populist messaging about failing Democratic policies.

• A verified profile on Luxy, a dating website marketed to wealthy and “elite” individuals, where a profile under her name claimed a lifestyle spanning DC, Miami, and New York — but notably not New Hampshire. The site claims a majority of users have six- or seven-figure incomes.

“If someone is doing her dirty, they’ve gone to great lengths,” said host Michael Duncan, referencing the apparent verification level of the profile and the large number of personal photos associated with it.

The profile also described Trudo — or someone using her name and likeness — as a “workhorse over a show pony” and noted interests in cooking, reading, and travel. One post showed her on a boat in what appeared to be Florida, while another included a romantic image with a significantly older man. The hosts blurred the man’s face for privacy but noted the image was posted publicly.

Trudo's initial justification for exploring a congressional bid was dissatisfaction with the Democratic Party’s failure to meet the needs of working-class voters — something she said she observed firsthand as a journalist. “My ties to broken policies and promises that fail the working class go well beyond what I’ve covered as a journalist,” she posted on X, formerly Twitter.

Yet her online persona, according to the show’s findings, raised more questions than answers.

“This is the tale of a journalist who says she’s had enough, but what is the story she’s really telling?” asked Holmes. “Is it a fight for the working class — or just another case of someone trying to play every angle at once?”

At the center of the controversy is what the hosts framed as a larger problem in modern politics: journalists blurring the line between reporting and activism, only to pivot into public office when the party line isn’t being toed closely enough.

“We tried to be fair. We wanted to ask her these questions directly,” said Duncan. “Instead, she vanished.”

As of publication, Trudo has not publicly addressed the questions raised by the show, nor has she announced a formal campaign. Her social media pages have not acknowledged the controversy.

One co-host put it bluntly: “If you’re going to put on the show pony act, don’t be surprised when someone checks if you’re actually just shopping for a sugar daddy in Miami.”

Ruthless said their invitation remains open. But until Trudo answers, the mystery — and the memes — are likely to continue.