In recent weeks, few names have stirred up as much controversy in American political circles as Caroline Leavitt. After being appointed as the new White House Press Secretary, Leavitt found herself under fire from familiar liberal voices, most notably Joy Behar and Whoopi Goldberg on The View. But what shocked audiences wasn’t the criticism itself—it was how Leavitt clapped back, leaving her critics scrambling to defend their own contradictions.
The controversy sparked when Joy Behar suggested that Leavitt had only secured her position because of her looks, quipping that “according to Donald Trump, she’s a 10.” The comment, laced with sarcasm, was quickly condemned not just by conservatives but even by some of Behar’s fellow panelists. One co-host pushed back: “She is attractive, sure—but she didn’t get the job because of that. Caroline was the national spokesperson for the campaign and did an excellent job. That’s why she was chosen.”
Leavitt herself didn’t back down. Instead, she turned the tables, accusing the liberal media and Democratic establishment of undermining accomplished conservative women by reducing their achievements to superficial qualities. “Would they respect me more if I were ugly?” she fired back, in a statement that went viral across social media.
But Leavitt didn’t stop at defending herself. She used the moment to attack broader Democratic narratives, accusing the party of hypocrisy and weakness. In a fiery speech, she criticized the Democratic presidential nominee for avoiding the press for 40 straight days and only agreeing to a “safe space” interview, accompanied by her male running mate. “What kind of message does that send to young women across America?” she asked, calling the nominee’s reluctance to face tough questions a betrayal of female empowerment.
Leavitt also took aim at the Biden-Harris administration’s legal battles against former President Trump, accusing them of “weaponizing” the justice system to take down their political opponent. “For years, they’ve called Trump a threat to democracy, compared him to Hitler, but it’s they who are undermining justice,” she argued. She pointed out that Trump’s willingness to endure court battles had only strengthened his appeal to voters.
Her bold words struck a chord with conservative audiences, who hailed her as a fearless voice willing to challenge the liberal media establishment. At the same time, critics accused Leavitt of playing the victim while dodging deeper policy issues. Yet even some moderates couldn’t ignore the irony: how could a show like The View, known for championing feminism, reduce a professional woman to nothing more than her appearance?
Commentators like Ben Shapiro jumped into the fray, calling Behar’s remarks not just sexist but hypocritical. “They hate Caroline not because she’s pretty, but because she’s smart, articulate, and they can’t control her,” he argued. Shapiro pointed out that if a Republican had made such a remark about a Democratic woman, the media would be in an uproar. “It’s only okay when they do it,” he said.
Leavitt’s rising profile wasn’t limited to her media appearances. She recently won a defamation lawsuit against a major media outlet, securing millions in damages. The case, stemming from false accusations aimed at discrediting her, marked a symbolic victory in her fight against what she calls the “biased liberal press.”
But the Leavitt saga isn’t just about one woman’s media battle—it reflects deeper fault lines in American politics. In an age where identity, gender, and appearance are wielded as political weapons, Leavitt has become a lightning rod. For conservatives, she embodies a new generation of bold, unapologetic leaders unafraid to take the fight to hostile media terrain. For liberals, she represents the threat of an articulate, attractive, young conservative who can’t easily be dismissed or caricatured.
Her critics accuse her of playing culture war games instead of engaging with policy. But her supporters see her as exposing the double standards of a movement that claims to champion women, only to tear down those who don’t share its ideology. “They don’t really care about competence,” one supporter said. “They just want someone who parrots their narrative.”
Leavitt’s clash with The View may have been just one battle, but it signaled a broader war between conservative women and the progressive establishment over who gets to define empowerment, representation, and fairness. As she continues to make waves, one thing is clear: Caroline Leavitt isn’t going anywhere—and she’s determined to turn every attack into fuel for her rising political star.
