Karoline Leavitt’s best bits as WH press sec – from sparring with CNN’s Kaitlan Collins, ‘your mom’ joke & ‘stupid’ jibe

KAROLINE Leavitt has delivered plenty of fiery one-liners from the White House podium – and she is leaving the job on a high. The 28-year-old press secretary is stepping down at the end of the month after 18 months as one of President Donald Trump’s most recognizable and trusted aides. Karoline Leavitt, 28, is stepping down as White House press secretary after 18 months Credit: Alamy President Trump announced her departure on Wednesday, citing her desire for family time Credit: AFP Trump announced her departure Wednesday, saying Leavitt wanted to spend more time with her family. The president said it was “a decision I totally understand and respect!” and revealed she will remain in his orbit as “one of my top outside advisors, and an influential voice within the Republican Party.” Sign up for The Sun newsletter Thank you! Leavitt, the youngest White House press secretary in history, described the job as “the honor and adventure of a lifetime.” She added: “Most of all, I am thankful to the President for entrusting me with the distinct privilege of speaking on his behalf at the White House podium. “I have relished holding the liberal media accountable and ensuring the American people hear the truth about President Trump’s successes.” Her departure brings the curtain down on a lively stint behind the famous lectern that saw Leavitt repeatedly go viral for her clashes with the press. From a two-word “your mom” comeback to fiery exchanges with CNN’s Kaitlan Collins, here are some of her most memorable moments. ‘Your mom’ One of Leavitt’s cheekiest responses did not even come from the White House briefing room. Most read in The Sun She went viral in October after sharing a text exchange with HuffPost White House correspondent S.V. Dáte as Trump prepared for a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Hungary. Dáte questioned the choice of Budapest as the proposed meeting place, pointing to its significance in relations between Russia and Ukraine. “Does he not see why Ukraine might object to that site? Who suggested Budapest?” he asked. Leavitt’s answer was short and sweet: “Your mom did.” Leavitt was known for fiery clashes with the media Credit: Getty Trump said she will remain a top outside advisor and influential Republican voice Credit: Alamy When Dáte questioned whether she thought the response was funny, Leavitt doubled down and branded him a “far-left hack who nobody takes seriously. She added: “Stop texting me your disingenuous, biased, and bulls*** questions.” Kaitlan clash CNN anchor Kaitlan Collins also found herself on the receiving end of a Leavitt broadside during one heated White House exchange. Collins challenged the press secretary in March over Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s criticism of media coverage of the deaths of American service members. She claimed Hegseth was “complaining that it was front page news about these six service members who were killed.” Leavitt immediately pushed back. “That’s not what the secretary said, Kaitlan, and that’s not what the secretary meant,” she fired back. “And you know it. You know you’re being disingenuous.” Collins then read Hegseth’s full remarks and pointed out that news organizations report on US military deaths regardless of who occupies the White House. But Leavitt wasn’t backing down. “The press does only want to make the president look bad,” she said. “That’s it. That’s a fact.” CNN host Kaitlan Collins once had a tense exchange with Leavitt at the White House Credit: AFP Leavitt made history when she became the youngest White House press secretary ever after Trump returned to office in January 2025 Credit: AP ‘Stupid question’ Another viral moment came during a June 2025 briefing when Leavitt was quizzed about Trump’s stance on demonstrations. NOTUS reporter Jasmine Wright asked her to “clarify what kind of protest President Trump does support or find acceptable” after Trump issued a warning ahead of a military parade in Washington. Leavitt replied that Trump “absolutely supports peaceful protests. He supports the First Amendment,” while stressing that “he does not support violence of any kind.” Wright followed up by asking whether peaceful protests would be allowed on the day of the parade. Leavitt appeared baffled that there was any doubt. “Of course the President supports peaceful protests. What a stupid question,” she shot back. Gulf row Leavitt also went toe-to-toe with The Associated Press during a row that erupted over the newly renamed Gulf of America. The Trump administration restricted the news agency’s access to some press events in early 2025 after the AP continued using Gulf of Mexico following Trump’s move to rename the body of water. Leavitt defended the White House’s position as part of its push to hold news organizations accountable. “It is a fact that the body of water off the coast of Louisiana is called the Gulf of America,” she declared. The restrictions were later lifted. But the AP found itself in Leavitt’s firing line again when reporter Josh Boak challenged Trump’s tariffs. Boak asked why the president was “prioritizing tax hikes in the form of tariffs.” Leavitt described them as a “tax hike on foreign countries,” prompting Boak to point out that tariffs are charged to importers. That did not go down well. “I think it’s insulting that you’re trying to test my knowledge of economics, and the decision that this President has made,” Leavitt responded. Then came one final jab: “I now regret giving a question to The Associated Press.” Leavitt will now swap the daily White House press battles for more time with her family, but she won’t be fully gone from Trump’s orbit. The president has made clear he wants his outgoing press secretary close by as an outside adviser, meaning her headline-grabbing comebacks may not be over just yet. Comment now