Donald Trump praised Caroline Leavitt’s beauty, saying, “Those lips, that face”
Introduction
In a recent interview with Newsmax, President Donald Trump offered a highly personal and widely criticized set of compliments to his Press Secretary, Karoline Leavitt. While praising her performance, Trump’s language focused on her physical appearance in a way many have deemed “creepy” and “unprofessional,” sparking a fresh wave of controversy across social media and reigniting debates about workplace conduct and the public discourse surrounding gender.
The Context: A Call for a Nobel Prize
The controversial remarks were made in response to Leavitt’s own high praise for Donald Trump . Just a day earlier, at a White House press briefing, Leavitt, who is 27 and the youngest White House Press Secretary in history, made a bold claim. She stated that Trump, since his return to office, had “brokered, on average, about one peace deal or ceasefire per month,” and therefore, “it’s well past time that President Trump was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize.” This effusive endorsement set the stage for Trump’s subsequent comments.
Trump’s “Unusual Compliments”
When asked about Leavitt, Donald Trump began with standard praise, calling her “a star” and “a great person.” However, the tone shifted dramatically as he offered a series of unconventional compliments that have since gone viral. “It’s that face. It’s that brain. It’s those lips, the way they move. They move like she’s a machine gun,” he said. He then concluded by calling her “the best press secretary anybody has ever had,” seemingly conflating her professional abilities with his personal observations of her appearance.
The Public Backlash: “Uncomfortable” and “Unprofessional”
The reaction on social media was swift and overwhelmingly negative. Many users took to platforms like X (formerly Twitter) to express their discomfort.
- Workplace Double Standard: A recurring theme in the criticism was the perceived double standard. Numerous posts argued that if any other boss were to speak about a subordinate in such a manner, they would face immediate termination and legal action for sexual harassment.
- Echoes of the Past: Critics were quick to draw parallels between Trump’s comments and his past controversies, with some referencing his long-standing association with the late financier Jeffrey Epstein. One user wrote, “This definitely sounds like something Jeffrey Epstein’s best friend would say,” reigniting a contentious part of Trump’s history.
- Media Accountability: The incident also prompted questions about media accountability. Some social media users expressed frustration that mainstream news outlets might not press Trump or the White House for further explanation on the “incredibly bizarre” comments, suggesting a lack of journalistic scrutiny.
Conclusion: A Broader Conversation on Conduct
While Trump’s supporters have largely defended the comments as a harmless and off-the-cuff compliment, the widespread backlash highlights a deeper public unease.
This incident has reignited a national conversation about professional boundaries, gender dynamics in powerful positions, and what constitutes appropriate conduct for a public figure, particularly a sitting U.S. President.
The controversy surrounding Karoline Leavitt’s performance and Trump’s response serves as a powerful case study in the modern media landscape, where personal compliments can quickly become a public relations crisis.
