Fact Check: Did Karoline Leavitt claim people will love tariffs if they ‘avoid woke things like math’?

WASHINGTON DC: While the internet is a powerful tool for staying informed, it’s also a breeding ground for rumors, especially when it comes to high-profile figures. 

In mid-April 2025, a viral screenshot began making the rounds, allegedly from a Fox News interview featuring White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt. 

The image included a bold chyron that caught attention and quickly fueled online discussion. As the post spread across social media, it sparked widespread debate and skepticism, with many questioning whether the quote was real. So, what’s the truth behind the viral claim?

What was the viral claim about Karoline Leavitt?

The rumor began circulating after X user @YourAnonNews shared a screenshot that appeared to show White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt  during a Fox News interview, with a chyron reading: “Leavitt: 'Avoid woke things like math, and you'll love the tariffs.'”

The post was captioned, “Math is woke and is to be avoided.”

The image quickly spread across multiple platforms including Instagram, Bluesky, Reddit, 9GAG, Threads, iFunny, and Tumblr—where many users seemed to take it at face value. Within just a few days, the post racked up over 2.6 million views, more than 3,100 comments, 10,000 shares, and 93,000 likes.

While some believed the screenshot was real and reflected an actual Fox News segment, others speculated that it had been digitally altered and was likely fake.

One user shared, "Lol for real? I must watch this clip now. 🍿"

One confused person shared, "I can’t tell if this is satire or real life."

Another person questioned, "Is this real? because this would not be a surprise if they did say it. Idiocracy."

A comment read, "This is fake."

Viral image of White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt is fake

According to Snopes, the viral image and the claim about White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt are false.

While the screenshot itself was taken from a real Fox News interview, the chyron at the bottom of the screen featuring the controversial quote was digitally altered. The original chyron actually read: “One-on-one with Karoline Leavitt.”

Snopes traced the image back to a February 10, 2025, Fox News segment, which is still publicly available on the network’s website and YouTube channel under the title: “Karoline Leavitt: Democrats learned nothing from their devastating defeat.”

 Further debunking the claim, the outlet confirmed that at no point in the interview did Leavitt say people would love tariffs if they "avoid woke things like math," nor did she make any similar remarks. A Google search also yielded no credible news reports backing the claim.

Additionally, there were visual inconsistencies in the edited image that pointed to tampering. The font used in the fake chyron was noticeably different—thicker and inconsistent with Fox News' typical on-screen style, clearly proving the manipulation.

This article contains remarks made on the internet by individual people and organizations. MEAWW cannot confirm them independently and does not support claims or opinions being made online.