‘PURE SHAMELESSNESS’: Critics Slam Karoline Leavitt Over ‘Dangerous’ New Lie
“This isn’t just political spin. It’s reckless. It’s dangerous. And it’s pure shamelessness.”
— Political analyst David Kravitz, on national television
Karoline Leavitt, the controversial and media-savvy White House Press Secretary, is once again at the center of a political firestorm — and this time, critics say she’s crossed a dangerous line. The latest backlash erupted after a statement she made during a live press briefing was widely condemned as factually false, potentially harmful, and intentionally misleading.
Within hours, her remarks were trending across social media platforms with hashtags like #LeavittLie, #PureShamelessness, and #StopTheSpin dominating X (formerly Twitter), Reddit, and TikTok. The political fallout has already begun, with lawmakers, journalists, and voters demanding an official correction — or even resignation.
🔥 The Statement That Sparked It All
During Tuesday’s morning press briefing, Leavitt was asked about a recent spike in violent crime across major U.S. cities. In response, she claimed:
“There is zero correlation between rising crime and the current administration’s policies. In fact, crime is down significantly compared to four years ago.”
But within minutes, fact-checkers from multiple outlets — including The Associated Press, Reuters, and Politifact — began publishing contradictory data, showing that violent crime rates have risen sharply in several metro areas over the past 12 months, particularly in districts where budget cuts to law enforcement were implemented.
One Politico headline read:
“Leavitt’s Claim Debunked in Real Time”
📊 The Real Numbers
According to the FBI’s preliminary 2025 crime report:
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Violent crime is up 14% nationwide compared to 2021.
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In major cities like Chicago, Philadelphia, and Seattle, homicide and assault rates are the highest they’ve been since 1997.
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Public polling indicates that 62% of Americans feel less safe in their communities than they did two years ago.
Several local police departments have also pushed back on Leavitt’s narrative, including LAPD Chief Ernest Castillo, who stated:
“We’ve asked for more federal cooperation and support, not denial.”
⚖️ Critics React Swiftly
Within hours of her statement, bipartisan critics launched sharp rebukes:
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Senator Elise Roman (D-NY):
“When you gaslight the American people about their own safety, you’re not protecting democracy — you’re insulting it.”
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Conservative commentator Mark Devlin:
“This isn’t just a misspeak. It’s a straight-up lie, and it puts lives at risk.”
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The New York Times editorial board published an op-ed titled:
“Karoline Leavitt and the Politics of Denial.”
It accused Leavitt of “weaponizing misinformation to protect a political agenda at the expense of national security and public trust.” -
📱 Social Media Uproar
The backlash wasn’t limited to traditional media. Social platforms exploded with outrage:
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Viral video edits compared her briefing to crime scene footage and headlines, labeling her a “professional gaslighter.”
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TikTok creators stitched her clip with real interviews from crime victims, with captions like: “Tell them it’s all in their heads.”
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One tweet from journalist Beth Chen, now with over 300,000 likes, read:
“Karoline Leavitt lied. Americans died.”
🧠 The Psychological Toll of Misinformation
Several experts weighed in on the deeper impact of statements like Leavitt’s. Dr. Samuel Wright, a political psychologist at Georgetown, noted:
“When officials deny lived experiences — like community violence — it erodes public trust. It breeds cynicism, disengagement, and in extreme cases, civil unrest.”
Wright also warned that repeated denials of reality “normalize dysfunction and reward dishonesty in leadership.”
🧨 A Pattern of Deflection?
This isn’t the first time Leavitt has come under fire. Just months ago, she faced criticism for minimizing climate-related disasters, falsely suggesting that record-breaking wildfires were “well within historical norms.”
Some analysts now point to a pattern of behavior: deflect, deny, and dominate the narrative — regardless of facts.
“She’s a master of the political deflection game,” said Rachel Morgan, host of The Breakdown.
“But this time, she picked the wrong lie. People care about their safety — and they know what they see on their streets.”
🎙️ Leavitt’s Response: Double Down or Backtrack?
Late Wednesday, Leavitt issued a brief statement on X, writing:
“The truth will always prevail. Crime is down in key areas thanks to this administration’s holistic approach to community well-being. Don’t let legacy media scare you.”
The post was immediately flagged by the platform for “potentially misleading information,” further fueling the controversy.
As of Thursday morning, no official correction has been issued.
💬 What Comes Next?
With trust in public institutions already fragile, Karoline Leavitt’s latest misstep threatens to deepen the rift between government and the people it serves. Whether she will face consequences remains unclear — but the damage to credibility may already be done.
One thing is certain:
In a world desperate for truth, shamelessness is no longer a shield — it’s an exposure.
💭 What do you think? Should Karoline Leavitt apologize — or resign? Join the discussion below and follow us for continuing updates.