Karoline Leavitt Opens Up About Trump’s Behavior Off-Camera

Karoline Leavitt has truly become a significant figure in the Trump administration. The 28-year-old press secretary has faced her fair share of criticism and wild tabloid stories suggesting she’s undergone plastic surgery to fit the mold of a “MAGA Barbie.” Yet, she continues to shine brightly even during tough times.

Her boss, Donald Trump, is known for being straightforward on social media and during interviews, but he has consistently supported Leavitt and highlighted her credibility. Leavitt grabbed headlines when she stepped into this role in January 2025, making her the youngest press secretary in White House history, gaining the attention of the MAGA community.

In a recent appearance on Pod Force One, Leavitt shared her positive experiences working alongside Trump, describing him as “encouraging” and stating that she genuinely admires him. When host Miranda Devine probed whether Trump has ever critiqued her post-briefings, Leavitt confessed he is “occasionally” critical but reassured listeners that the majority of his feedback is highly supportive.

Before stepping into her current position, Leavitt served as a spokesperson for both the Trump campaign and the transition team. In the podcast, she emphasized how Trump’s motivation helped her tackle the high-pressure demands of her role, explaining how important his support has been.

Leavitt’s confidence during briefings seems to be one of the reasons Trump thinks highly of her work. She explained that she invests significant time in preparing for each briefing: “I walk in understanding what they will ask because I read, watch, and prepare all morning and throughout the day.”

As the podcast progressed, Leavitt opened up about some challenges of her job. The press environment can be intense, continually holding the ruling party accountable. “The press briefing room can get pretty combative. We must stay professional and focus on delivering facts, and no one does that better than President Trump,” she stated.

Additionally, Leavitt mentioned the administration’s readiness to engage with responsible journalists committed to their ethics and strive for accurate reporting. She recalled how in March, the White House decided to exclude Associated Press reporters from briefings over a disagreement related to naming the “Gulf of Mexico” as the “Gulf of America,” despite Trump’s claim during an announcement.

Interestingly, back in the Obama administration, there was a notable instance where Fox News was also banned from press briefings, but due to protests from other news outlets, they were later allowed back in.

Most recently, during a meeting with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, Trump was spotted jokingly looking for Leavitt. He humorously said, “Where is Karoline? Oh no! She deserted me! Our amazing superstar Karoline!” indicating their close working relationship and camaraderie.

Trump has even affectionately called Leavitt “Machine Gun Lips,” which sparked a wave of criticism from netizens over its potentially degrading implication. Despite such controversies, the working relationship between Trump and Leavitt appears strong and supportive.