Trump faults Karoline Leavitt as he touts economic wins: 'Maybe I have bad public relations people'

Donald Trump blamed poor public relations for limited recognition of his first-year achievements, saying his team failed to get the message across
PUBLISHED JAN 21, 2026
Donald Trump marked one year in office with Karoline Leavitt, blaming 'bad public relations people' while touting US economic gains (Win McNamee/Getty Images)
Donald Trump marked one year in office with Karoline Leavitt, blaming 'bad public relations people' while touting US economic gains (Win McNamee/Getty Images)


WASHINGTON, DC: Donald Trump marked his first year in the Oval Office by joining his Press Secretary, Karoline Leavitt, for a White House press briefing on Tuesday, January 20.

He, however, reportedly ended up criticizing her, blaming “bad public relations people” for difficulties in promoting his economic wins. 

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt listens as U.S. President Donald Trump speaks during a press briefing in the James S. Brady Press Briefing Room of the White House on January 20, 2026 in Washington, DC. Leavitt was joined by President Trump days after the president threatened a 10% import tax on goods from eight European countries that have rallied around Denmark amid Trump's calls for the U.S. to take control of Greenland, a semi-autonomous Danish territory. (Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images)
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt listens as President Donald Trump speaks during a press briefing in the James S Brady Press Briefing Room of the White House on January 20, 2026 in Washington, DC (Win McNamee/Getty Images

After taking the podium while brandishing a thick booklet titled “Accomplishments,” the president told reporters that the US has become “the hottest country in the world” because of his policies. 

Trump blames bad PR for not getting recognition

Donald Trump blamed poor public relations for his administration not receiving enough recognition, while also questioning why his successful first year in office has drawn limited attention before criticizing his own team.

President Donald Trump and White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt arrive to a press briefing in the James S. Brady Press Briefing Room of the White House on January 20, 2026 in Washington, DC. Leavitt was joined by President Trump days after the president threatened a 10% import tax on goods from eight European countries that have rallied around Denmark amid Trump's calls for the U.S. to take control of Greenland, a semi-autonomous Danish territory. (Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images)
President Donald Trump and White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt arrive to a press briefing in the James S Brady Press Briefing Room of the White House on January 20, 2026 in Washington, DC (Win McNamee/Getty Images)

Trump said, “We’ve had the best stock market in history, the best 401Ks in history. And we inherited a mess. The numbers that we inherited were way up. And now we brought them, almost all of them, way down.”

“I mean, I’m not getting, maybe I have bad public relations people, but we’re not getting it across,” he added.

Trump's first year in office sees stock market plummeting

 Trump’s first year in office saw the stock market tumble, despite his claims of major economic achievements.

U.S. President Donald Trump speaks to the media during a press briefing in the James S. Brady Press Briefing Room of the White House on January 20, 2026 in Washington, DC. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt was joined by President Trump days after the president threatened a 10% import tax on goods from eight European countries that have rallied around Denmark amid Trump's calls for the U.S. to take control of Greenland, a semi-autonomous Danish territory. (Photo by Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images)
President Donald Trump speaks to the media during a press briefing in the James S Brady Press Briefing Room of the White House on January 20, 2026 in Washington, DC (Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images)

The Republican leader reportedly spent more than two hours outlining what he described as his accomplishments, including reducing drug prices “by as much as 300, 400, 500, and even 600 percent.” He said, “So something that was costing $1,300 is now costing $87,” before claiming that the “fake news doesn't want to write about it. That’s why I do this. I don’t like to do this, to be honest with you, but I do it because I gotta get the word out.”

However, the reality was reportedly the opposite of what the commander-in-chief was asserting.

The Dow plummeted 870 points at Tuesday’s close, while the S&P 500 fell 2.1 percent. The Nasdaq also slid 561 points amid Trump’s threat to take over Greenland.

Trump renews Greenland takeover push

Donald Trump once again insisted on taking over Greenland in a social media posting spree while traveling to Davos for the World Economic Forum.

WASHINGTON, DC - JANUARY 20: U.S. President Donald Trump displays a stack of binders as he arrives for a press briefing in the James S. Brady Press Briefing Room of the White House on January 20, 2026 in Washington, DC. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt was joined by President Trump days after the president threatened a 10% import tax on goods from eight European countries that have rallied around Denmark amid Trump's calls for the U.S. to take control of Greenland, a semi-autonomous Danish territory. (Photo by Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images)
President Donald Trump displays a stack of binders as he arrives for a press briefing in the James S Brady Press Briefing Room of the White House on January 20, 2026 in Washington, DC (Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images)

“I agreed to a meeting of the various parties in Davos, Switzerland. As I expressed to everyone, very plainly, Greenland is imperative for National and World Security. There can be no going back, On that, everyone agrees,” he claimed. 



Trump further stated that the US “is the most powerful country anywhere on the Globe, by far. We are the only POWER that can ensure PEACE throughout the World, And it is done, quite simply, through STRENGTH!"



Soon afterward, Trump shared a text message from French President Emmanuel Macron, which appeared to show disagreement with Trump’s position on taking over Greenland.

“My friend, We are totally in line on Syria. We can do great things on Iran. I do not understand what you are doing on Greenland,” the message read.

“Let us try to build great things. I can set up a g7 meeting after Davos in Paris on Thursday afternoon. I can invite the Ukrainians, the Danish, the Syrians and the Russians in the margins. Let us have dinner together in Paris together on Thursday before you go back to the US,” the text from Macron added.

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