During the first White House press briefing from the new misadministration, 27-year-old Karoline Leavitt followed the previous habits of Trump press secretaries, performing for an audience of one.
During her theatrical debut on Tuesday, the youngest White House Press Secretary (period) channeled The Boss, by promoting his executive actions, exaggerating their benefit, and demeaning Joe Biden.
In 2017, the NYT reported on the Trump communication strategy: “Trump told top aides to think of each presidential day as an episode in a television show in which he vanquishes rivals.” In 2024, this still tracks.
You get the idea. Also included were some new protocols and warnings to her subjects in the White House press pool.
Leavitt announced the misadministration would open the briefing room to “new media” voices, including social media influencers and independent journalists. She encouraged podcasters, influencers and other online content creators to apply for a chance to attend a briefing and be blessed to ask a question.
But the call to new media was not without a disclaimer, as she noted legacy media outlets have pushed “lies” about Trump and his family and “we will call you out when we feel that your reporting is wrong.”