The White House press secretary, Caroline Leavitt, recently had a tense exchange with CNN’s Caitlan Collins regarding President Trump’s comments suggesting that Americans should scale back on holiday gifts for their children this Christmas.
Collins challenged Leavitt, questioning whether Trump’s statements contradicted his assertions about an improving economy during his second term.
“Everything I’m sharing is factual and rooted in data. You just don’t want to report it because you prefer to push a false narrative about the president,” Leavitt stated.
“If the economy is really as strong as the president claims, why is he advising parents to limit their Christmas shopping to just a few dolls?” Collins pressed.
In response, Leavitt said, “What the president means is that if we want products made in America—especially from small businesses, which is why he implemented tariffs—we’ll ultimately get better quality. Sure, you might spend a bit more, but you’ll be supporting American jobs.”
She went on to assert that key economic indicators had improved under Trump, citing factors like inflation and gas prices.
“The best is yet to come,” Leavitt added. “The president is working hard to pull the country out of the economic challenges left by the previous administration.”
Collins pointed out that there are mixed signals concerning the economy, mentioning rising food prices during Trump’s tenure.
As the conversation continued, Leavitt accused Collins of double standards and highlighted that the media was complicit in the messaging of the past administration.
She remarked, “My predecessor stood at this podium denying any signs of inflation and assured that our borders were secure, and yet people like you took her word for it. Both were outright lies!”
She reiterated, “Everything I’m sharing is the truth, grounded in actual data. You just prefer not to cover it, as you aim to shape a false narrative about the president.”
Collins and Leavitt’s exchange was widely shared on social media.
As the midterm elections approach, some polls indicate a slight increase in approval ratings for Trump’s economic policies.
