'It will shock you': Karoline Leavitt reveals why Trump can't let go of 2020 election loss

Karoline Leavitt criticized the media for ignoring election integrity concerns and urged reporters to watch President Trump's speech before judging it
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt speaks with reporters in the James Brady Press Briefing Room at the White House, Thursday, July 16, 2026, in Washington (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta)
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt speaks with reporters in the James Brady Press Briefing Room at the White House, Thursday, July 16, 2026, in Washington (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta)

WASHINGTON, DC: White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt revealed why President Donald Trump repeatedly renews the debate over alleged election rigging in 2020.  

Trump’s spokeswoman spoke about why the president can’t seem to let the 2020 election go when she was pressed by NBC News senior White House correspondent Garrett Haake, before Trump's prime-time speech to the American people on Thursday night, July 16.

Haake referenced President Donald Trump's upcoming speech, where he is expected to reveal new evidence that the 2020 election was rigged against him.

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt does a television interview at the White House, Tuesday, Dec. 16, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt does a television interview at the White House, Tuesday, December 16, 2025, in Washington (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

“The 2020 election has had dozens of recounts, lawsuits, audits,” Haake said. “2024 election widely believed to be safe and secure. There’s not really any question about that. A lot of people –”

“Because it was too big to rig,” Leavitt interrupted, adding that there were “a massive amount of votes for this president” and “that’s why he’s in the Oval Office right now.”

“No one disputes that,” Haake fired back. “And there were significant amount of votes for Joe Biden, who won in 2020. I think the question is, why is the president unable to let this go?”



Karoline Leavitt says Trump's speech will shock everyone

Leavitt went on to criticize the media for ignoring what she described as the concerns of "tens of millions of Americans" over election integrity.

She also accused NBC's Peter Alexander of making assumptions about Trump's upcoming speech before hearing it, urging reporters to watch the address and claiming, "It will shock you."



“I think all Americans, Democrats and Republicans, should agree that we are the greatest country in the history of the world,” Leavitt said as she talked about the Trump prime-time speech.

“We should have the safest and most secure elections in the history of the world, and what the president will be speaking about tonight will show you that perhaps that is not the case,” she said.

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt speaks with reporters in the James Brady Press Briefing Room at the White House, Thursday, July 16, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt speaks with reporters in the James Brady Press Briefing Room at the White House, Thursday, July 16, 2026, in Washington (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)

Karoline Leavitt sees her job as public service

Leavitt also talked about the importance of fair elections and how grateful she is for her job.

“I don't view this as a job. I view this as public service, on behalf of a president whom I firmly believe in, and in everything this administration is doing to really create a better country for my children and their future,” Leavitt said.

Leavitt said that she is grateful for both her roles as press secretary and mother.

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