Overview

• The remarks came during an August 1 Newsmax interview following a disappointing jobs report and the firing of the Bureau of Labor Statistics director.
• Karoline Leavitt, 27, was named press secretary in November as the youngest in White House history and opened briefings to non-traditional media.
• Social media users condemned the president’s emphasis on her looks as inappropriate for a professional relationship.
• Critics such as MeidasTouch likened Trump’s praise to Jeffrey Epstein’s language, amplifying the backlash.
• Trump nonetheless hailed her as the best press secretary he’s ever had, even as observers warn the episode has undermined serious policy communication.