Fox News panelist Jessica Tarlov accused departing press secretary Karoline Leavitt of lying from the podium. The timing could not have been more awkward, considering journalists across the political spectrum were busy showering Leavitt with praise at that very moment.
Tarlov dropped her verbal grenades during Thursday's episode of "The Five," according to reports, just one day after President Trump revealed that Leavitt would step down at the end of August to focus on raising her young family.
The liberal panelist first brushed off any notion that something fishy was behind Leavitt's exit. But then she quickly shifted gears and went full attack mode. Tarlov claimed Trump kept Leavitt around because she "does his bidding very well." Ouch. She then unloaded a triple combo, saying the press secretary "dodges, she attacks, she obfuscates" when facing questions from reporters.
But Tarlov was far from finished. She told viewers she wanted to highlight what she called "mistruths" and "lies" delivered from behind the famous podium. She rattled off a laundry list of topics, including administration statements about condom shipments to Gaza, the Epstein files, the Signal group chat involving journalist Jeffrey Goldberg, the Kilmar Abrego Garcia situation, affordability claims under Trump, and a controversial federal aid freeze.
Here is where it gets really juicy. While Tarlov was busy torching Leavitt's record, actual White House correspondents were singing a completely different tune. Fox News senior correspondent Jacqui Heinrich called Leavitt a highly effective communicator who was "very accessible and in the room with the president." Heinrich even compared her favorably to the Biden administration's press operation, calling the departure a significant blow to Trump's team.
NBC News correspondent Garrett Haake went even further, writing that it was "impossible to overstate" how deeply embedded Leavitt was within Trump's inner circle. Multiple reporters gave her credit for taking questions from both legacy outlets and independent media, knowing Trump's policy positions inside and out, and treating journalists fairly even when they came at her with hostile questions.
Leavitt, who made history as the youngest person ever to hold the press secretary title at just 27 years old, recently came back to work after welcoming her daughter Viviana in May. She also has a two year old son. She explained that after returning from maternity leave, she realized she could not give 100 percent to both the grueling job and her children at the same time.
She described it as a "bittersweet decision" but said she was ready for a fresh chapter focused on family.
Trump clearly was not ready to let go entirely. He announced Leavitt would continue serving as an outside adviser and prominent Republican voice heading into the midterm elections. The president heaped praise on her, calling Leavitt "one of the best White House Press Secretaries in the History of the Office."
So while Tarlov was busy compiling her list of grievances, practically everyone who actually covered Leavitt on a daily basis was tipping their hats to her. The contrast is almost too perfect. Politics really is the greatest reality show on television.
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