Jen Psaki mocks Trump with 'faux' Karoline Leavitt briefing as she answers real WH press questions
NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK: Jen Psaki just grabbed a prop podium to host a full roast session of White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt on 'The Briefing'.
The MSNBC host and former Joe Biden press secretary channeled her White House days to deliver a no-holds-barred takedown of Donald Trump’s recent antics, from alleged crypto cash grabs to the controversial firing of a Black woman who ran the Library of Congress, Mediaite reported.
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Jen Psaki trolls Karoline Leavitt as she holds a faux White House press briefing
On Friday night’s episode, Jen Psaki fully got into character as she acted out a fake press briefing on MSNBC, pretending to be Karoline Leavitt and calling it “bizarro.”
"I have noticed the White House briefing room has taken a bit of a bizarro turn lately. And I figured, what the hell, it’s a Friday night. Why not dust off the cobwebs and field a few questions from the White House press briefing room today?" she began. "Because it’s been a while. Of course, I’m going to answer them without the usual MAGA spin."
Psaki kicked things off by mocking Trump’s crypto venture — a meme coin offering superfans a chance to win dinner with the president if they buy in.
She called on a supposed question from The Bulwark’s Andrew Egger, who asked, "The president posted another ad this week for his Trump meme coin. The group that’s running that coin is encouraging people to buy in order to win a dinner this month with the president. Why is the president planning to attend a dinner for the top investors in his coin?"
Psaki responded, “This is all about the grift. Selling access to make himself and his adult sons richer is a key part of this presidency. And guess what? It’s working.”
Since the meme coin’s debut in January, Psaki claimed Trump and company have already raked in over $320 million in gains. She added, “So that’s why he’s planning to attend the dinner — the money for himself. That’s a pretty easy one.”
Jen Psaki mocks Donald Trump’s UK agreement, Eric Adams' White House visit
Up next, Fox News’ Jacqui Heinrich’s question about Donald Trump’s rushed UK deal. "Why did the White House announce this deal with the UK before all of the details were finished?" she supposedly asked.
Psaki responded, "Oh, Jacqui. Well, the announcement and the headlines it generates are pretty much the point. The details are kind of secondary. I mean, Trump gets to put on a show in the Oval Office and pretend like he’s achieved a monumental victory."
"The deal is just a bit of an empty shell. I mean, you could, I guess, call it a framework, which is sort of generous, or agreement to negotiate more than anything else. But the 10% tariff on goods remains in place. And there are big remaining questions, huge ones, like any UK tax on digital services for the US, something that would have huge effects on American tech companies. And there were many more," she alleged.
Steven Nelson of the New York Post then asked about NYC Mayor Eric Adams visiting the White House.
"I would just note this reporter once asked me if the Bidens were going to put their dog down," Psaki quipped. "But that aside, here’s the answer to that question. Eric Adams is visiting because he owes his current freedom to the guy sitting in the White House."
"Let’s stop pretending this is on the level, like where the relationship is between a president and a New York City mayor just coordinating city business in a normal course of events. I mean, even the judge who allowed the case to be dropped said that it, quote, smacks of a bargain," she added.
Taxes, toys, and Donald Trump’s tightrope act
CBS’s Nikole Killion brought up Donald Trump’s muddled stance on taxing the rich.
"Can you just clarify the president’s position a little bit, specifically on the tax issue? Because in his Truth Social post, he said this morning that he would accept even a tiny tax increase for the rich, but then says Republicans probably shouldn’t do it, but I’m okay if they do it. So what is it that he wants? Does he want them to increase the tax rates?" Killion asked.
“He just definitely does not want them to increase taxes," Psaki responded.
She insisted the president’s strategy was trying to appear supportive of tax hikes on the rich to win over working-class voters, while avoiding blame. “He may be conniving, but the guy knows how to read a poll. He also doesn’t like angry phone calls from donors. So I guess, I mean, he’s trying to walk a tightrope here, Nikole."
Next up was Axios’ Sophia Cai asking about the dismantling of the Consumer Product Safety Commission, which she noted "does recalls and is responsible for product safety."
Psaki replied, "I love that you had to state in your question, Sophia, what they actually do, which is important for people to remember. But that’s right. He did. And these people also inspect things like strollers and seat belts."
"When you combine this with the impact that tariffs on China are going to have on the cost of things like stroller and car seats and toys and cribs, it’s kind of hard to argue. They see the safety and affordability of these items as important," she added.
Jen Psaki accuses Trump administration of racism over Carla Hayden's firing
The night’s final "question" came from the Associated Press’ Chris Megerian. He was wondering why Donald Trump abruptly fired Carla Hayden, the Librarian of Congress — a respected academic and the first African-American woman to hold the post.
Psaki held up a photo of Hayden and implied racism was at play. "All right, Chris, why did Trump abruptly fire Carla Hayden, the Librarian of Congress, who has served in her position, I would note, since 2016 and was confirmed by the Senate with bipartisan support in a vote of 74 to 18?" she rephrased the question.
"Well, I’m going to use a visual aid. Here’s a picture of her. I’ll let you draw your own conclusions on why Trump and his administration decided to fire Carla Hayden. Hope that was all clarifying," she concluded.
