Trump Halts Speech to Debut Karoline Leavitt Nickname After Bizarre Praise for Her ‘Lips and Face’
On Monday, former President Donald Trump held a press conference in Washington, D.C., to talk about his new plan to fight violent crime in the city. The event was supposed to focus on serious topics—he announced that he wanted to declare a state of emergency, put Attorney General Pam Bondi in charge of local law enforcement, and send in the National Guard.
But, in typical Trump fashion, things took an unexpected turn in the middle of his speech.
While talking, he suddenly paused, looked around the room, and started calling for his press secretary, Karoline Leavitt.
“Where’s Karoline? Where’s my superstar?” he asked, scanning the crowd. “Karoline? Karoline? Is Karoline in the back? Come here, Karoline. Come here.” He waved her toward the stage and even stepped aside to make room for her. Then he turned to the audience and asked, “Is she doing a good job, by the way?”
Leavitt, who had been standing quietly off to the side, walked forward but stayed at a distance. Trump asked her if this was the biggest crowd she had ever spoken to. She smiled and replied, “Yes, definitely the most packed briefing. I think we need to build a ballroom.”
A reporter shouted, “Can we build a big beautiful briefing room?” Trump quickly responded, “No. I don’t want to do that. I don’t want you to be comfortable.” The crowd laughed.
It might have just been a lighthearted moment, except it came only a few weeks after Trump had made unusual comments about Leavitt that drew criticism.
In an August 1 interview, Trump praised her in a way many thought was too personal, saying: “She’s become a star. It’s that face, it’s that brain, it’s those lips, the way they move—like a machine gun. She is a star. She is a great person, actually. I don’t think anybody has ever had a better press secretary than Karoline Leavitt.”
Critics called his remarks “creepy” and “unprofessional,” while his supporters dismissed it as just Trump being Trump.
Leavitt, 27, is the youngest person ever to serve as White House press secretary. She has been close to Trump for years, starting as a press aide during his 2020 campaign before running for Congress in New Hampshire. She’s known for her tough approach with reporters and her strong defense of Trump’s policies—qualities that clearly earn Trump’s admiration.
In the end, Monday’s press conference showed exactly how Trump operates. What started as a serious announcement about crime ended up turning into a personal show moment. The “big beautiful ballroom” joke might be forgotten, but the “my superstar” nickname—and the memory of his earlier “face and lips” comment—will likely keep people talking.
Whether this boosts Karoline Leavitt’s public image or fuels more criticism about the White House’s tone, one thing is certain: when Trump has the microphone, there’s always a good chance he will go off script. And for now, Leavitt seems to be enjoying his full support.
