Donald Trump’s White House press secretary, Karoline Leavitt, held her debut press conference with reporters on Tuesday. It was a breath of fresh air following four years of binders, circling back, outrageous falsehoods, and general incompetence.
Leavitt may not have needed the binder, but she was well-prepared all the same. As evidenced by an exchange with an Associated Press reporter who wanted to know how the media could be certain she wouldn’t lie to them. Which is a pretty gutsy assertion coming from a member of the dying legacy media.
“A question that we’ve asked your predecessors of both parties in this job, when you’re up here in this briefing room, speaking to the American public, do you view yourself and your role as speaking on — advocating on behalf of the president or providing the unvarnished truth that is, not to lie, not to obfuscate to the American people,” the reporter queried.
“I commit to telling the truth from this podium every single day I commit to speaking on behalf of the president of the United States. That is my job,” Leavitt replied.
“And I will say it’s very easy to speak truth from this podium when you have a president who is implementing policies that are wildly popular with the American people.”
Karoline Leavitt Turns Question About Lies Back On Reporter
Things got even better when press secretary Karoline Leavitt flipped the question entirely back on the room of reporters, which, incidentally, was packed. Presumably, because the media has to pretend to be doing their jobs again now that Trump is in the White House.
Vacation is over, kids.
Leavitt proceeds to explain that part of giving the truth to the American people is correcting the lies of the previous administration.
“And that’s exactly what this administration is doing. It’s correcting the lies and the wrongs of the past four years — many of the lies that have been told to your faces in this very briefing room,” she said. “I will not do that.”
Then came the death blow to legacy media.
“But since you brought up truth, I would like to point out while I vow to provide the truth from this podium, we ask that all of you in this room hold yourselves to that same standard,” Leavitt fired back.
“We know for a fact there have been lies that have been pushed by many legacy media outlets in this country about this president, about his family. And we will not accept that,” she insisted. “We will call you out when we feel that your reporting is wrong or there is misinformation about this White House.”
“So, yes, I will hold myself to the truth and I expect everyone in this room to do the same.”
AP Reporter: How can we be assured you’re not gonna lie?
Press Secretary: Actually it’s the MSM like you who have been lying for years
BOOM pic.twitter.com/ulCPeFk9iu
— Libs of TikTok (@libsoftiktok) January 28, 2025
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Not The Only Shot At The Press
Holding reporters accountable wasn’t the only bad news for mainstream media to come out of Karoline Leavitt’s first briefing. She also acknowledged how “new media” is leaving old media in the dust.
“We’re also opening up this briefing room to new media voices who produce news-related content and whose outlet is not already represented by one of the seats in this room,” she declared.
“Starting today, this seat in the front of the room, which is usually occupied by the press secretary’s staff, will be called the New Media Seat.”
Old media is being phased out. Leavitt hinted at such actions earlier this month when she explained press credentials to the president’s Briefing Room would be handed out to podcasters and social media influencers.
“If this election proved anything, it proved that the American people are no longer listening to the mainstream bias, anti-Trump legacy media,” Leavitt explained.
