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Leavitt’s ‘Most Well-Read’ Praise for Trump Prompts Backlash

The viral clip renews scrutiny of how the White House portrays the president’s information diet.

Overview

  • Leavitt made the claim at a Turning Point USA event at George Washington University on Thursday after which journalist Aaron Rupar posted the clip on X.
  • The video drew widespread ridicule through Saturday, with social media users mocking the line and questioning whether the description matches Trump’s habits.
  • Former Homeland Security official Miles Taylor disputed the claim, recalling 2017 briefing advice that said Trump does not read, to bring pictures, and to keep any words to a single page.
  • Mediaite highlighted years of reporting that Trump often skipped the written President’s Daily Brief and relied on oral summaries enhanced with photos and graphics.
  • Commentators linked the flattery to staff dynamics after Trump jokingly suggested firing Leavitt earlier in the week, and she separately described late-night calls from the president and getting little sleep in the role.