White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt strongly criticized reporters during her latest briefing, accusing them of trying to undermine President Donald Trump’s diplomatic efforts in Ukraine.
“All weekend, following those historic U.S.-Russia bilateral talks, we listened to clueless pundits on television trying, but failing, to claim that the president had failed,” Leavitt told journalists.
She also targeted foreign policy experts, saying their track record was filled with wars and wasted resources. “The so-called experts in the foreign policy establishment, whose record is nothing but endless wars, trillions of wasted taxpayer dollars and dead Americans, have the nerve to try and lecture President Trump, who has solved seven global conflicts in seven months, about peace.”
Trump-Putin Talks and Mixed Reactions
Leavitt’s remarks came after Trump’s summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska. Putin received unusual honors, including a red carpet reception and a ride in the U.S. presidential limousine.
However, the three-hour talks did not produce a ceasefire in Ukraine, despite Trump hinting at progress beforehand. Nor did the U.S. announce the “severe” sanctions on Russia that Trump had previously suggested.
Leavitt defended the meeting, describing it as a “listening session” meant to prepare for further negotiations.
Next Round of Talks in Washington
The follow-up discussions took place on Monday in Washington. Trump met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, along with leaders from France, Britain, Italy, Germany, NATO, and the European Union.
Republicans in Congress quickly rallied behind Trump. On Tuesday, lawmakers Andy Ogles and Marlin Stutzman nominated him for the Nobel Peace Prize, praising his role in getting both sides to the negotiating table.
Trump himself has said he is working to arrange a direct meeting between Putin and Zelensky.
Russia’s Firm Warning to NATO
Meanwhile, Moscow made clear that NATO’s role in Ukraine remains a red line. The Russian foreign ministry warned:
“We reaffirm our repeatedly stated position of categorical rejection of any scenarios that envisage the appearance in Ukraine of a military contingent with NATO countries, which is fraught with an uncontrolled escalation of the conflict with unpredictable consequences.”
Leavitt’s Attack on the Media
Leavitt doubled down on her criticism of U.S. media coverage, accusing journalists of twisting the outcome. “This is why Americans’ trust in the mass media is at a lowest point in more than five decades,” she said.