Karoline Leavitt ‘In Over Her Head’ as Critics Mock Latest Press Conference Mistake

White House Press Secretary’s Verbal Blunder Draws Online Ridicule

WASHINGTON, D.C. – White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt faced widespread ridicule on Wednesday after a verbal misstep during a press briefing. When questioned about when Americans can expect grocery prices to decrease, Leavitt struggled to respond, mistakenly referring to the "grocery pump"—an apparent conflation of "gas pump" and "grocery store."

Within minutes of the slip-up, an anonymous user created a parody account on the social media platform Bluesky, titled "Grocery Pump." The account, in its biography, humorously claimed to be concerned that "eggs are now $500 a gallon." The White House / YouTube

Political Commentators Pounce on Leavitt’s Slip-Up

Political figures and commentators were quick to seize on Leavitt’s gaffe. Former Republican National Committee Chair Michael Steele mocked Trump’s past claims about reducing grocery costs, writing on X, "But 'on day one...!!' Trump told us 'I won on groceries. Very simple word, groceries...We're going to bring those prices way down.' I want my prices at the 'grocery pump' to go down NOW! I can't afford the eggs I need to put into my tank." Maryland GovPics / Wikimedia

Critics Question Leavitt’s Credibility and Competence

Other critics took aim at Leavitt’s credibility. "White House Barbie will have a complete meltdown one day, mark my word. The constant lying and avoiding direct answers cannot hold up under scrutiny. She is in over her head," wrote Tom Haudricourt, a former reporter for the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.

Additionally, NBC News project manager sarcastically commented in a post on Bluesky, "The grocery pump? Okay, that’s a new one. Tell me you’ve never been inside a grocery store without telling me." The White House / YouTube

Concerns Grow Over White House Transparency

This isn’t the first time Leavitt’s remarks have drawn scrutiny. Previously, she blamed the Biden administration for soaring egg prices, citing the "mass killing" of chickens. More recently, she was accused of misleading the public regarding Elon Musk's coders’ access to government systems. When asked by Fox correspondent Peter Doocy if Musk’s team had "read-only access," Leavitt confirmed they did. However, when Doocy pressed further—"So they are not allowed to write new code?"—she answered "no," raising suspicions among tech analysts.

Former Buzzfeed tech reporter Max Wolf questioned the accuracy of her response, stating, "I suspect 'not allowed to write new code' is leaving relevant wiggle room."

Leavitt’s comments have amplified existing concerns about transparency within the administration, while her "grocery pump" remark continues to fuel online mockery and political scrutiny. BruceSchaff / Wikimedia