A public back-and-forth on X between a senior U.S. Customs and Border Protection official and a journalist who has covered his operations has drawn online attention for its informal, flirtatious tone.
The exchange, captured in a screenshot shared widely on social media, involves Gregory K. Bovino — who uses the X handle @CMDROpAtLargeCA and styles himself “Commander Op At Large CA Gregory K. Bovino” — and freelance journalist Amanda Moore (@noturtlesoup17).
According to the posts, which appear to have been made within the past 24 hours:
• Bovino wrote: “You didn’t say it correctly – a sugar-free slice of HIERLOOM apple pie. Perhaps you could make the pie for us.”
• Moore replied: “Commander it would be my honor, just tell me where to go.”
• Bovino responded: “Most excellent. I’ll let the gubner know you’ll be taking care of his appetite, in a healthy way.”
• Moore: “Only if you’re there, Commander!!!!”
• Bovino: “I’d love to see you bustling around the gubner’s kitchen fixing us a pie. I truly would.”
• Moore: “Would love to also talk about all your accomplishments!!!”
The term “gubner” is a colloquial or playful misspelling of “governor.” The posts do not specify which governor was referenced.
Context of the participants
Bovino is a CBP commander who has served as the public face of recent federal immigration enforcement surges in cities including Minneapolis and Chicago. He has maintained an active and often combative X presence, responding directly to critics and sharing operational updates. Recent news coverage has noted his high visibility during these operations, including videos of him in a distinctive long green coat directing agents amid protests.
Amanda Moore is a freelance journalist who has reported extensively on Bovino and far-right extremism. Her work has appeared in outlets such as Mother Jones, The Nation, and Politico. She has stated on X that she has been covering Bovino’s “multi-state Border Patrol surge” since September and frequently posts firsthand observations from sites of federal operations.
Online reaction
The thread has been widely screenshotted and discussed on X and other platforms. Some commentators have described Bovino’s replies as unprofessional “reply-guy” behavior or suggested he appeared intoxicated. Others have viewed the exchange as mutual banter or trolling. No official statement from CBP, Bovino, Moore, or any governor’s office has been issued regarding the posts.
This interaction occurs against the backdrop of Bovino’s recent high-profile role in federal enforcement actions and ongoing public scrutiny of his social media activity. Public X posts by public officials and journalists are generally considered fair game for reporting when they are openly visible.
The screenshot provided to this outlet matches the public record of the accounts and timing. No additional facts beyond the visible posts and publicly available biographical details from the participants’ own profiles and prior news coverage have been included.
