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White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt faced accusations of hypocrisy on Thursday after declaring that “hatred has no place in the United States of America under President Donald Trump.”
Leavitt’s assertion ― during a press briefing in which she addressed the fatal shooting of two Israeli Embassy workers Wednesday in Washington, D.C. ― prompted critics to point out Trump’s yearslong history of incendiary rhetoric.
In the last week alone, Trump has used his Truth Social platform to whip up anger against federal judges, attack rock star Bruce Springsteen (including with a spoof video in which the president appears to strike the musician with a golf ball) and slam Beyonce, U2 frontman Bono and TV legend Oprah Winfrey.
Many critics, therefore, suggested Leavitt pass her comment on to the president. Others recalled Trump’s online post in which he literally expressed his hatred for another pop star when he declared, “I hate Taylor Swift.”
Are Trump and MAGA aware of that?
— 𝐂𝐡𝐢𝐝𝐢 (@ChidiNwatu) May 22, 2025The entire MAGA movement is based on hatred.
— Matt (Taylor’s Version) (@MattMMPLS) May 22, 2025Hatred is the central theme. So basically Leavitt is living in permanent Opposite Day.
— gotochelle 🇺🇸 (@gotochelle) May 23, 2025Trump reignited the flames of hatred in the United States. One only needs to recall his infamous remark—‘very fine people on both sides’—to understand how deeply he normalized division. His entire political strategy is rooted in vilifying one side while exalting his own. He…
— Dr G (@eg1701) May 23, 2025Also in the briefing, Leavitt was pressed on whether the guest list to a dinner that Trump was hosting for people who bought his Trump-themed crypto coins would be made public.
“The president is attending it in his personal time,” Leavitt said. “It is not a White House dinner, it’s not taking place here at the White House. But certainly I can raise that question and try to get you an answer for it.”
Reporter: You guys are very proud of your record on transparency… on the president's dinner tonight will the white house commit to making a list of the attendees public so people can see who is paying for that access?
Leavitt: The president is attending it in his personal… pic.twitter.com/oDkCdkN7kT
Critics questioned the notion of “personal time” for a sitting president, and more:
President's don't get "personal time." There's not like a magic suit you wear when you are doing official business and one where you are just Donald from Queens. https://t.co/r2KK6ZCuyc
— Tim Miller (@Timodc) May 22, 2025He’s the “President” of the United States. He doesn’t punch a time card and magically stop having that job.
If he’s meeting with Kim Jong Un or Kanye f’ng West, the American people have a right to know. https://t.co/k2gni6pFPx
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