President Donald Trump has twice in under a week characterized the departure of outgoing press secretary Karoline Leavitt as a decision to prioritize her children over her work.
During remarks at the White House on Monday, Trump stated, “She decided she loved her children more than she loved Donald Trump. I’m very upset about this.” He added that Leavitt “has to go home and spend time with her children,” noting her recent birth of a second child, Vivi, in May. Trump also offered congratulations to Leavitt on the birth of her child.
Earlier in May, following Leavitt's announcement that she would be leaving her role, Trump posted on his Truth Social account that she was departing to “spend more time with her beautiful young children and family, a decision I totally understand and respect!”
The repetition of the remark has led to interpretations on social media that the comments reflect a fragile ego on Trump's part. Mediaite noted that Trump made the same joke on Friday during a rally for South Carolina Republican Senate candidate Darline Graham.