The winds of change are blowing through the White House press briefing room, and not everyone is happy about it. New White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt’s first week brought sweeping reforms to the decades-old institution, including new seats for independent media and restored access for hundreds of previously excluded journalists.
The 27-year-old press secretary’s initiatives quickly drew fire from establishment media figures. However, it wasn’t her policies that sparked the most heated reactions.
Remember when the left claimed to champion women in positions of power? Apparently, that only applies to certain women. The hosts of ABC’s The View launched personal attacks that seemed to contradict their own stated principles about supporting women in leadership.
Joy Behar sparked particular outrage when she suggested that Leavitt only received her position based on her appearance.
“She’s probably been put in there because, according to Donald Trump, she’s a 10,” Behar said on Wednesday’s show. “You know that’s what it is.”
It doesn’t get much more sexist than that, folks!
Joy Behar on The View just disgustingly accused Karoline Leavitt of only having a job due to her looks.
“Karoline Leavitt was only hired by Donald Trump because she's a '10.' You know that what it is.”
This is false. Here’s a list of Karoline Leavitt’s qualifications:… pic.twitter.com/iTsIIqShKg
— Media Lies (@MediasLies) January 29, 2025
The View’s Double Standard
The attack drew swift condemnation from across the political spectrum. Former Trump administration staffer Alyssa Farah Griffin, also a panelist on The View, immediately pushed back, noting, “It wasn’t her first job, it was just her first press briefing.”
Social media erupted with criticism of Behar’s comments.
“If a Republican said anything remotely like that they would be pilloried,” wrote one X user. Another added, “She got the job because she is qualified.”
Whoopi Goldberg piled on with her own criticism, claiming Leavitt only has her position due to “wokeness” – the very concept Leavitt had criticized during Tuesday’s briefing. The irony, it seems, was lost on Goldberg.
Whoopi Goldberg has angry meltdown over Trump’s new Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt.
“This young lady whose- this is her first job, I would like her to do a little homework. She said something yesterday that pissed me off.”
— Oli London (@OliLondonTV) January 29, 2025
While the mainstream media obsessed over appearances, Leavitt was busy dismantling their monopoly on White House access. In her first briefing, she announced that two front-row seats typically reserved for White House staff would become “new media” seats, opening access to independent journalists.
“Starting today this seat in the front of the room, which is usually occupied by the press secretary’s staff, will be called the ‘new media’ seat,” she said. “My team will review the applications and give credentials to new media applicants who meet our criteria and pass United States Secret Service requirements.”
This marked a stark departure from previous administrations’ practices of limiting access to traditional media outlets. Leavitt also announced the restoration of press passes for 440 journalists whose credentials were “wrongly revoked” under the previous administration.
Conservative Support Grows
While establishment media figures attacked Leavitt personally, conservative commentators rallied to defend both her qualifications and her reforms. Many pointed to her extensive experience, including her role as communications director for multiple congressional campaigns and her previous White House work.
Let’s be clear: this isn’t just about press room seating charts. It’s also about breaking the establishment’s stranglehold on information. The contrast between Leavitt’s focus on substantive reforms and her critics’ focus on personal attacks has only strengthened conservative support for her initiatives.
As the dust settles from her first week, Leavitt’s actions suggest a new era of media accountability and access at the White House. While establishment figures may resist these changes, her commitment to expanding press freedom and challenging old-guard media institutions signals a significant shift in how the White House engages with journalists and the American public.
The coming months will reveal whether these reforms can withstand the headwinds of resistance from traditional media outlets. But one thing is clear: the old way of doing business in the White House briefing room is over.
Key Takeaways
- The View’s personal attacks on Leavitt reveal the liberal media’s selective support for women in leadership positions.
- Leavitt’s press room reforms challenge decades of establishment media control over White House access.
- Conservative voices are gaining ground as traditional media outlets show their bias through personal attacks.
- The transformation of White House press briefings signals a victory for media accountability and transparency.
Sources: Daily Mail, Daily Caller, The New York Sun
