Overview

• Karoline Leavitt fumbled a question on the South Korean election at Tuesday’s press briefing, searching her binder before admitting the White House had no immediate response.
• The clip of her shuffling through briefing materials went viral on social media, drawing widespread mockery from critics and commentators.
• Republicans Against Trump condemned the moment as a “clown show” that reflects the administration’s unpreparedness on nonpartisan policy questions.
• Liberal candidate Lee Jae-myung won the South Korean presidential election, defeating conservative rival Kim Moon-soo and ending President Yoon Suk Yeol’s party’s tenure.
• Following the briefing, the White House issued a formal statement affirming an “ironclad” US-South Korea alliance and expressing concern over Chinese interference in democratic processes.