Donald Trump compliments his press secretary on stage, but the words he uses have people calling it ‘gross’

President Donald Trump drew heavy criticism on after making remarks about White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt’s appearance specifically her looks and lips, during a campaign rally in Pennsylvania. What was intended to be a speech promoting his administration’s economic record quickly veered off course as his comments shifted toward her physical features instead.

According to HuffPost, Trump had travelled to the state to spotlight the economy, addressing supporters with his usual energy. During the rally, he introduced Leavitt and described her as a “superstar,” prompting strong applause from the crowd. At first, it sounded like a routine political compliment – an acknowledgement of the work she does representing the administration at the podium inside the White House.

But the tone changed moments later. Rather than continuing to highlight her professional performance, Trump pivoted to talking about her looks. After asking the crowd whether they thought she was “great,” he immediately brought up how she appears on television and praised her on-air presence. His remarks left critics accusing him of undermining a senior female official by reducing her work to her physical appearance.

Trump’s focus on appearance overshadowed the actual policy message

“You know, when she goes on television, Fox, like, I mean, they dominate, they dominate, when she gets up there with that beautiful face,” Trump told the audience. While he might want his staff to look professional on TV, pointing out her “beautiful face” definitely crossed professional boundaries.

The comments got worse from there. Trump then praised “those lips that don’t stop. Pop-pop-pop-pop, like a little machine gun.” He was apparently trying to compliment how quickly and effectively she speaks, but comparing her mouth to a weapon while focusing on “those lips” came across as wildly inappropriate. This isn’t the first time Leavitt’s reactions have drawn attention from critics online.

Trump did try to bring it back to policy. He said Leavitt “has no fear” because “we have the right policy.” He was clearly trying to connect her communication skills to his administration’s platform, but the physical descriptions completely overshadowed that message. The rally came as Trump has been telling Americans to own fewer products amid economic challenges.

People on social media immediately criticized the comments, with many calling them “gross.” When discussing high-level policy and government work, focusing on a press secretary’s physical features in such detail is a huge distraction. It shifts attention away from the administration’s actual performance.

For someone in such an important communications role, the focus should be on briefing skills and handling tough questions, not on appearance or how fast someone talks. Critics said the comments were inappropriate because they undermine the seriousness of the office and the important work Leavitt does.