White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt is under scrutiny for two separate incidents that critics say highlight a juvenile streak in administration communications.
In a Fox News interview about the White House’s response to the rise of New York mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani, Leavitt broadly characterized Democrats’ main constituency “made up of Hamas terrorists, illegal aliens and violent criminals,” remarks that drew immediate pushback. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries called the comments “unacceptable” and “dangerous,” while Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said they erode trust and civility in public discourse.
Leavitt: “The Democrat Party’s main constituency is made up of Hamas terrorists, illegal aliens, and violent criminals.” pic.twitter.com/IcJwhYYV5x
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) October 16, 2025
Later in the week, during a White House press briefing, Leavitt fielded a question from HuffPost about President Trump’s upcoming summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Attempting humor, she responded with a “your mom” quip alongside National Security Council Senior Director Stephen Cheung. Media critics described the joke as “juvenile” and noted it undercuts the professionalism expected from a press secretary.
Observers note that the pair of incidents — partisan accusations on Fox and middle-school-style humor in the briefing room — have reinforced concerns about the tone of official White House communications. MSNBC’s Rachel Maddow called Leavitt’s Fox comments “a deplorable moment,” highlighting how senior officials’ words can quickly dominate headlines and social media.
Leavitt has not issued further clarification, leaving critics and political opponents to question whether the White House is prioritizing viral soundbites over substantive messaging.
