President Donald Trump drew widespread criticism after making unusually personal comments about White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt during a Friday night interview with Newsmax host Rob Finnerty on August 1.
When asked about Leavitt’s performance in his administration, Trump offered compliments that focused on her physical appearance rather than her professional capabilities. Trump stated, “It’s that face. It’s that brain. It’s those lips, the way they move.”
The president continued by comparing Leavitt’s speaking style to rapid-fire weaponry, saying her lips move like she operates a machine gun. He added that she had become a star and described her as a great person, claiming no president had ever had a better press secretary.
Leavitt, 27, made history in January 2025 when she became the youngest White House press secretary ever appointed. She previously worked as a presidential speechwriter and assistant press secretary during Trump’s first administration, starting as a White House intern in 2019.
The New Hampshire native graduated from Saint Anselm College in 2019 with a bachelor’s degree in communications and politics. During college, she founded the institution’s first broadcasting club and interned at Fox News during the 2016 presidential election. She also worked at Hearst Television WMUR-TV and ran unsuccessfully for Congress in New Hampshire’s 1st district in 2022.
Trump’s comments came after Leavitt made effusive praise for the president during a White House press briefing on Thursday, August 1. She claimed Trump had brokered approximately one peace deal or ceasefire per month during his six months back in office and urged that he be awarded the Nobel Peace Prize.
Leavitt credited Trump with involvement in diplomatic efforts across multiple global hotspots, including conflicts between Thailand and Cambodia, Israel and Iran, Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, India and Pakistan, Serbia and Kosovo, and Egypt and Ethiopia.
Social media users responded with sharp criticism to Trump’s remarks about his press secretary. Many described the comments as creepy, uncomfortable, and inappropriate for a workplace setting. Critics compared the situation to workplace sexual harassment, noting that such comments about a staff member would typically result in termination in other professional environments.
Several users drew connections between Trump’s language and his past association with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. One commenter suggested the remarks sounded like something Epstein’s associate would say, while others questioned why Trump’s name was reportedly redacted from recently released Epstein-related documents.
Additional criticism focused on the media’s response to Trump’s comments, with users questioning whether mainstream outlets would address what they characterized as bizarre and inappropriate language from the president about a federal employee.
Some Trump supporters defended the president’s praise of Leavitt, highlighting her youth, intelligence, and handling of the challenging press secretary role. They characterized the comments as typical praise from Trump for his staff members’ performance.
Leavitt married 59-year-old real estate developer Nicholas Riccio in January 2025, shortly before Trump’s second inauguration. The significant age gap and her rapid career advancement have drawn public attention alongside her professional achievements.
The press secretary is known for her strict enforcement of Trump administration policies, including the renaming of the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America, and her fierce defense of Trump’s presidency. She has made multiple public calls for Trump to receive international recognition for his diplomatic efforts.
During the same Newsmax interview, Trump discussed various topics including potential pardons for associates of Jeffrey Epstein and his criticism of Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell. He indicated Powell would likely remain in position despite his desire to remove him, citing potential market disruption.
The controversy surrounding Trump’s comments adds to ongoing scrutiny of his communication style and professional conduct. Critics have called for accountability regarding what they view as inappropriate workplace behavior toward a federal employee.
