A heated exchange between CNN fact-checker Daniel Dale and new White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt has sparked controversy in Washington's political landscape.
According to Daily Mail, CNN labeled Leavitt a "spinmeister" after she allegedly evaded questions about the impact of federal grant and loan freezes during her first White House press briefing on Tuesday.
The 27-year-old press secretary's responses regarding the spending freeze drew criticism when she stated that Social Security, Medicare, and food stamp payments would not be affected. However, she faced pushback for not addressing concerns about nonprofit programs like Meals on Wheels that rely on federal funding through intermediary organizations.
During her inaugural briefing, Leavitt announced significant changes to the White House press corps structure. She introduced designated "new media" seats in the front row, typically reserved for White House staff. The administration plans to review applications from independent journalists, podcasters, and content creators who meet their criteria and pass Secret Service requirements.
The Trump administration also pledged to restore press passes to 440 journalists whose credentials were allegedly revoked during the Biden administration. This move signals a dramatic shift in media access policies at the White House.
Leavitt directly confronted what she called "lies" from legacy media outlets about President Trump and his family. She emphasized the administration's commitment to calling out perceived misinformation.
CNN fact-checker Daniel Dale criticized Leavitt's handling of questions about the federal spending freeze. He stated:
It's a classic spinmeister tactic saying I answered that when you haven't answered it and apparently can't answer it right away
The funding pause created widespread confusion, temporarily shutting down Medicaid portals and raising concerns among aid groups about critical health services. President Trump later rescinded the freeze order after claiming the review uncovered millions in wasteful spending on "woke" government projects.
The temporary suspension was initially implemented to align government spending with Trump's executive orders dismantling Biden-era diversity, equity, and inclusion programs. However, the move's broad impact sparked fears about disruption to essential services.
Leavitt used her first briefing to address several key administration priorities. She shared photographs of deported immigrants and their alleged criminal histories, emphasizing the administration's strict stance on illegal immigration.
When questioned about deportation strategy, Leavitt declared that all undocumented immigrants would be considered criminals under Trump's policies. She stated that entering the country illegally makes someone a criminal, marking a significant shift from the previous administration's approach.
The new press secretary also provided updates on national security matters, explaining that mysterious drones spotted over New Jersey were authorized for research purposes and posed no foreign threat.
Karoline Leavitt, the youngest White House press secretary in U.S. history, faced immediate scrutiny from CNN over her responses about federal funding freezes during her first briefing. The 27-year-old's appointment signals significant changes in White House media relations, including restructured press corps seating and expanded access for new media outlets. While some traditional media outlets have criticized her approach, Leavitt maintains that the administration will prioritize transparency while actively confronting what they consider misrepresentation of Trump administration policies.
