In a fiery live TV showdown on May 16, 2025, at 9:00 PM +07, Senator Cory Booker attempted to challenge White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt on CNN’s The American Pulse, but the 27-year-old conservative powerhouse turned the tables in a way that left the audience gasping and Booker visibly rattled. The viral moment, now trending as #LeavittVsBooker, has sparked a media frenzy, with Leavitt’s unyielding takedown exposing deep flaws in Booker’s argument and sending his team into damage control.
The clash began when Booker, known for his impassioned speeches, questioned Leavitt on the Trump administration’s recent tariffs, accusing them of being “tax hikes in disguise” that hurt working families. “Your administration claims to champion the middle class, but these tariffs are raising prices—how do you justify that?” Booker pressed, his tone sharp. Leavitt, dressed in a navy suit, remained unfazed, her steely demeanor reminiscent of her viral confrontations on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert. “Senator, let’s talk facts, not feelings,” she fired back, her voice cutting through the tension. “These tariffs are bringing jobs back to America—$1 trillion in investments, as I’ve said before. You can’t champion the middle class while ignoring the manufacturing collapse your party oversaw.”
The audience fell silent, sensing the shift. Booker attempted to pivot, bringing up the Signal group chat scandal involving Trump officials, a topic Leavitt has repeatedly dismissed as “sensationalized” by outlets like The Atlantic. “What about the lack of transparency in your administration? Those leaked messages show reckless behavior,” Booker said, hoping to regain control. But Leavitt was ready, drawing on her past rebuttals of CNN’s Kaitlan Collins. “Transparency? Let’s talk about the Biden administration’s botched Afghanistan withdrawal—13 service members dead, and not a single person held accountable. Where was your outrage then?” she countered, her words landing like a sledgehammer. The crowd erupted in gasps, with some cheering from the MAGA side.
Booker’s face tightened, his usual eloquence faltering. “That’s not the point here,” he stammered, but Leavitt pressed on, exposing his inconsistency. “It’s exactly the point, Senator. You can’t lecture us on accountability when your party turned a blind eye to real failures. Americans see through this selective outrage.” The studio atmosphere turned electric, with Booker’s team visibly scrambling offstage, whispering urgently as their candidate struggled to respond. Leavitt’s relentless delivery echoed her past press room moments, like when she shut down AP reporter Josh Boak for “insulting” her economic knowledge.
Social media exploded, with #LeavittWins trending globally. “She just dismantled Booker on live TV!” one X user posted, while another wrote, “Cory thought he could corner her, but Karoline Leavitt is a force!” Clips of the exchange racked up millions of views, with Fox News hailing Leavitt as “a fearless truth-teller,” while CNN analysts grudgingly admitted Booker “lost the narrative.” The moment has solidified Leavitt’s reputation as a formidable debater, unafraid to confront critics head-on, much like her viral airport confrontation that sparked #StandWithKaroline.
As the dust settles, this showdown has reignited debates about political accountability and media bias, with Leavitt emerging as a polarizing yet undeniable figure in American politics. For Booker, the night was a stark reminder: underestimating Karoline Leavitt comes at a steep cost.
