Fact Check: Did Karoline Leavitt rebuke AL Sharpton after he called her a ‘white nationalist’?
WASHINGTON, DC: A rumor has been circulating on social media platforms claiming that White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt responded to civil rights activist AL Sharpton after he allegedly called her a ‘white nationalist' and a ‘fake Christian,’ triggering criticism and speculation.
Let us analyze the origins of the viral rumor and fact-check it.
Claim: Karoline Leavitt rejected AI Sharpton's alleged remarks
According to the viral post that surfaced on Facebook, Leavitt fired back at Reverend Al Sharpton after he allegedly called her a ‘white nationalist’ and a ‘fake Christian.’
"My family came here specifically to worship freely, and then we fought bravely for the Union to end slavery," Leavitt said, according to the post. "Yours came from Trinidad about 20 years later."
The post further claims that Leavitt went on to remind Sharpton that there are two Union forts named after her family and a 150-year-old battleship called the USS Leavitt moored in Boston. She allegedly concluded by saying, “I think my credentials are solid."
Fact Check: The claim originated as a satire
However, the claim is false, as there is no evidence that Sharpton called Leavitt a ‘white nationalist' or a ‘fake Christian,’ prompting her to respond by recounting her family’s history of fighting against slavery.
There is also no evidence of a 150-year-old battleship called the USS Leavitt. However, there was a torpedo called the Bliss-Leavitt, named after Frank M Leavitt, the engineer who helped design it. There is no evidence that the press secretary is related to the engineer.
A Google search for Sharpton’s alleged remark and Leavitt’s alleged response yielded no credible reports from major news outlets. Moreover, the post featuring a picture of Leavitt and Sharpton included overlay text in the bottom-left corner stating, “Nothing on this page is real.”
Karoline Leavitt recently welcomed her second child
Leavitt welcomed her second child earlier last month. The Trump administration spokesperson revealed on May 7 that she had welcomed her second child, a baby girl named Viviana, on May 1, sharing that both mother and daughter are healthy as she enjoys her time away from the White House.
Sharing a photo of herself holding the newborn in her arms, Leavitt gave her social media followers a rare glimpse into her personal life. It was one of her first public updates since taking maternity leave from the White House.
“She is perfect and healthy, and her big brother is joyfully adjusting to life with his new baby sister,” Leavitt wrote. “We are enjoying every moment in our blissful newborn bubble.”
