Overview

• Karoline Leavitt used a July 31 briefing to hail Trump as a peacemaker and formally call for him to receive the Nobel Peace Prize.
• On August 1, Trump told Newsmax that Leavitt’s “face,” “brain” and especially her “lips” make her a star, saying they “move like a machine gun.”
• Clips of the interview went viral on social media, where many users labeled Trump’s focus on Leavitt’s appearance inappropriate and “creepy.”
• Journalists Greg Sargent and Alex Shephard called Leavitt’s effusive praise “absurdly over-the-top obsequious flattery” that reflects a shift toward loyalty-driven messaging.
• Observers warn that the spectacle of mutual admiration risks undermining the credibility and professionalism of the White House press operation.