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In a defiant defense of President Donald Trump’s second term, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt declared Friday that the administration has delivered “wins after wins after wins every single week,” a statement that has sparked both applause and skepticism. Speaking to Fox News host Sean Hannity, Leavitt, the youngest press secretary in U.S. history at 27, painted a rosy picture of Trump’s early months, even as his 90-day tariff pause and a string of controversies have rattled markets and polarized observers. Her remarks, coming amid economic uncertainty and cabinet missteps, highlight a White House eager to project strength—but struggling to align its narrative with reality.

Leavitt’s appearance capped a week of frenetic activity for the administration, marked by Trump’s surprise decision to halt global tariffs for 90 days after their initial rollout triggered a stock market plunge. “Every cabinet secretary is a rock star,” she told Hannity, citing achievements like falling gas prices, rising wages, and what she called “historic” Supreme Court rulings. Yet, her rosy rhetoric—echoed in a White House social media post listing “victories” like 145% China tariffs and coal executive orders—has drawn sharp critique, with economists, Democrats, and even some Republicans questioning whether the administration’s record matches its swagger.

Tariffs: A Win or a Wobble?

At the heart of Leavitt’s claims lies Trump’s trade agenda, a cornerstone of his “America First” vision. On Tuesday, he announced a staggering 145% tariff on Chinese imports, only to pause it days later after the Dow shed 600 points and corporate giants like Tesla warned of price spikes. Leavitt framed the pause as a strategic masterstroke, telling reporters it gave businesses “breathing room” to adapt. “President Trump’s aggressive leadership is undoing Biden’s damage,” she said Thursday, pointing to a reported dip in core inflation to 3.8% in March.

Economists, however, paint a murkier picture. The tariffs, briefly in effect, drove oil prices down—not from policy success, but from fears of a global recession, with Brent crude dipping to $68 a barrel. “Trump’s claiming a win for lower prices, but it’s a symptom of chaos, not control,” said Paul Dermot, an analyst at Capital Insights. Retail giants like Walmart project a 5–10% price hike on electronics if tariffs resume, while farmers brace for Chinese retaliation, recalling 2018’s soybean slump. The pause, set to end July 8, buys time but no certainty. “It’s a Band-Aid on a bullet wound,” Dermot added.

Social Reactions to Leavitt’s Statement

Needless to say, Leavitt’s rosy picture of the chaotic Trump administration hasn’t gone down well on social media:

One investment banker responded with a frank recap of recent crises, stating the situation isn’t “good news” but rather “chaos repackaged as propaganda”:

Another wrote that Leavitt talking about “rock stars” makes it sound like she’s “announcing Coachella”, the music and arts festival currently underway in Indio, California.

It wasn’t the only unusual situation involving Leavitt to occur this week, as one White House reporter asked her on Friday if she would consider “releasing the president’s fitness plan” because the US president is looking “healthier than ever before”.

Cabinet Controversies Cloud Claims

Leavitt’s praise for Trump’s “rock star” cabinet also raised eyebrows, given recent stumbles. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, a former Fox News host, faced calls to resign after revelations he discussed Yemen strikes in a Signal group chat that inadvertently included an Atlantic journalist. The breach, dubbed “Veep-level incompetence” by insiders, prompted a review of encrypted apps across agencies. Leavitt dismissed the story as a “hoax” by a “Trump-hater,” but allies like commentator Tomi Lahren urged the administration to “admit the screw-up and move on.”

Other appointees haven’t fared better. Education Secretary Linda McMahon dodged questions about closing her department after crashing a Democratic press conference, while Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent drew fire for predicting “big deals” on tariffs that never materialized. “Rock stars don’t fumble this badly,” said Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), who called Leavitt’s spin “delusional.” Even GOP allies like Senator Marco Rubio, now Secretary of State, have clashed privately with Trump’s DOGE czar Elon Musk, whose unchecked influence irks traditionalists.

Despite the turbulence, Leavitt leaned into her role as Trump’s fierce defender. A New Hampshire native and Catholic mother, she credits her faith for her resolve, once telling Yahoo News the administration faces “evil forces.” Her combative style—honed as Trump’s 2024 campaign spokesperson—thrives in the briefing room, where she’s invited outlets like Breitbart to counter “liberal media.” Yet, her claim of weekly triumphs struggles against a backdrop of mixed results.

Policy Wins or Pyrrhic Victories?

The White House’s touted “victories” include four Supreme Court rulings backing Trump’s agenda, from deportation powers to regulatory rollbacks. A bilateral meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and a nod to the L.A. Dodgers’ World Series win added symbolic heft. Gas prices, down to $3.02 a gallon, and a 2.1% wage bump in Q1 2025 bolstered Leavitt’s case, as did coal executive orders cheered by Appalachian miners. “Companies are investing billions again,” she said, citing a $2 billion factory pledge from a U.S. steel firm.

Critics, however, see sleight of hand. The Court rulings, while favorable, face ongoing challenges, and coal’s revival ignores global clean-energy shifts—China added 70 gigawatts of solar in 2024 alone. Wage gains lag inflation’s bite, with real purchasing power flat for most workers. Environmental groups slammed the coal push, with Sierra Club’s Elisa Owen accusing Trump of “milking Appalachia for cronies.” Deportations, a Trump hallmark, have netted 1,000 arrests but sparked legal battles, with a federal judge labeled a “Democrat activist” by Leavitt for halting flights to El Salvador’s mega-prison.

Foreign policy offers little clarity. Trump’s tariff threats coerced Japan and South Korea into trade talks, a win Leavitt touted, but China’s 84% counter-tariffs crippled U.S. exports like Tesla’s Model S, suspended in China Friday. A tense Oval Office clash with Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelensky exposed cracks in NATO ties, with Leavitt calling him “rude” on Fox—a far cry from diplomatic triumph.