Donald Trump has faced backlash online after making a remark widely described as “gross” about White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt during a campaign rally.
The 79-year-old US President made the comment on Tuesday, December 9, at an event in Pennsylvania that was meant to focus on the state of the American economy. However, his speech drifted across several unrelated topics—including comments about Leavitt’s appearance.
Leavitt, who has served as White House press secretary since January, is the 36th person to hold the position and, at 28, the youngest ever to do so.
While acknowledging her presence at the rally, Trump singled her out for praise, prompting cheers from the crowd. He then went on to compliment her performance on television, but quickly shifted to commenting on her looks and speech style—specifically referencing her “beautiful face” and her lips, which he compared to a “machine gun.”
The remarks immediately sparked criticism on social media, with many users calling them inappropriate and unsettling, particularly given the power dynamic between a president and a younger female employee.
One user questioned why a boss would speak about a subordinate in that way, calling the comment “creepy.” Others accused Trump of reducing a woman to her appearance, describing the remarks as “juvenile,” “predictable,” and “deeply inappropriate.”
Several critics also pointed out that the rally was supposed to address economic concerns, yet veered instead into what they described as rambling commentary unrelated to policy. Some viewers said they stopped watching altogether, while others expressed discomfort over Trump’s age in contrast to Leavitt’s, calling the comment “repulsive.”
This incident follows earlier criticism of Trump’s language toward women. Just weeks ago, he was condemned for a separate exchange in which he told a female journalist to be quiet, referring to her as “piggy”—a comment that was widely labeled misogynistic.
The latest controversy has reignited debate over Trump’s rhetoric, with critics arguing that it reinforces a longstanding pattern of disrespectful language toward women in professional settings.
