Karoline Leavitt confronts reporter over ‘making a face’ during White House press conference

WASHINGTON, DC: White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt engaged in a sharp exchange with a press correspondent after calling the latter out for allegedly "making a face" during the official briefing on Tuesday, March 11, reported the Irish Star.

The remark was made after the 27-year-old discussed President Donald Trump's ongoing feud with Canada over tariffs. Trump announced 50% tariffs on aluminum and steel from Canada beginning on Monday, which prompted Ontario Premier Doug Ford to threaten to turn off the electric power supply to the United States.

According to the publication, Ontario, Canada, supplies power to roughly 1.5 million American homes in Minnesota, Michigan, and New York. Leavitt warned on Tuesday that there would be "grave consequences" for Canada "if they think about shutting off electricity for the United States of America and our citizens."

Karoline Leavitt's exchange with a reporter

After addressing the tariff war, Karoline Leavitt noted on Tuesday, "To the woman in the purple cause I saw you were making a face at my previous answer, what's going on?"

The statement led to the bemused reporter quip, "Oh did I?" before stating that she had a "couple of questions." They were based on the Trump administration's plans to deport green card holders for participating in pro-Palestinian protests.

"At the core, the pro-Palestinian protests on college campuses and elsewhere is a demand to end the war in Gaza and is a goal that this administration actually supports and pursued," stated the reporter. "So why has this not been acknowledged or highlighted?"

Leavitt responded that the flyers distributed at such events were Hamas propaganda and allegedly "promoted violence." Referring to the tweet by Secretary of State Marco Rubio where he stated that the administration "will be revoking the visas and/or green cards of Hamas supporters in America so they can be deported," Leavitt stated that Rubio exercised his authority and that they "fully believe that we are going to move forward with more arrests."

The Trump administration has already arrested activist Mahmoud Khalil for leading pro-Palestinian protests at Columbia University in 2024 from inside his university-owned apartment. They sought his deportation but were blocked by a US District Judge over a habeas corpus petition.

Internet trolls Karoline Leavitt

Netizens reacting to the news on the Daily Mail website mocked Karoline Leavitt for taking issue with the White House correspondent. The following examples demonstrate the prevalent takes.

"This whole administration is run by children," wrote a person.

"Administration of snowflakes," jibed another.

"She is so far out of her depth. She thinks she is being smart but this will come crashing down on her," expressed a third.

"So everyone sit straight All eyes ahead Do not look side ways. Feet flat on the floor," mocked a fourth.

"She is nasty to make up for her feelings of inadequacy," chided a fifth.

"Censoring facial expressions is a new low," noted yet another.

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.