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White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said Thursday that her predecessor, Karine Jean-Pierre, struggled in the role because she did not have an open relationship with former President Joe Biden.
Leavitt spoke in an interview with Turning Point USA CEO Erika Kirk, saying President Donald Trump’s “authentic” approach removes the need for political spin.
“I saw my predecessor in this role have a bit of a hard time,” Leavitt said, referring to Jean-Pierre. “I think it’s because she wasn’t able to communicate with her boss in a very open and transparent way.”
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In contrast, Leavitt described Trump as “honest” and open about his views with staff and the public.
“He just lays it on the table. There’s no guessing, there’s no questioning, there’s no spin, it’s just, it is what it is with him,” Leavitt said.
Jean-Pierre served as press secretary for nearly three years under Biden. She was frequently criticized by Republican lawmakers for relying heavily on notes and struggling to discuss the president’s positions beyond prepared remarks.
She also frequently defended Biden’s mental acuity from the podium, although later reports would suggest that even the president’s allies had reservations about his ability to do the job.
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Leavitt said Trump’s openness about his views makes her job easier. However, he has also faced criticism for his unfiltered social media posts.
“We never know what you’re [going to] get when you walk into the White House these days. Every day is an adventure,” Leavitt said.
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Since leaving the White House, Jean-Pierre has registered as an Independent and written about that decision in her new memoir. In a podcast interview promoting her book, she defended Biden’s communication style.
“The president spoke to the American people a couple times a week. He traveled and did domestic travel and talked directly to the American people,”Jean-Pierre said on “The Bulwark” podcast last October.
“We are talking about a time politically that is incredibly partisan. It is hard to break through any messaging, and it was an incumbency as well,” she added.
Jean-Pierre has also pushed back on claims about Biden’s age, telling “CBS Mornings” she saw someone who was “always engaged. I saw someone who understood policy, pushed us on the policy, and also understood history.”
Fox News Digital reached out to Jean-Pierre for comment.
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