Karoline Leavitt cuts short White House briefing after reporter asks about Commerce chief Lutnick's Epstein island admis
Source: The Independent
Tuesday 10 February 2026 15:31 EST
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt on Tuesday abruptly cut short a briefing with reporters after a reporter asked about Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnicks relationship with Jeffrey Epstein.
The question came hours after Lutnick, responding to questions from congressional lawmakers over documents released by the Justice Department, revealed that he misled the public about the extent of his ties to the convicted pedophile sex trafficker, who killed himself in jail while awaiting trial.
Leavitt was roughly 20 minutes into one of her regular briefings with the White House press corps when a reporter asked whether President Donald Trump would stand behind Lutnick, who earlier in the day had admitted to members of the Senate Commerce Committee that hed visited Epsteins notorious private island, Little Saint James. She replied that Trump fully supports Lutnick and described him as a very important member of President Trump's team.
But instead of allowing reporters to probe further into Trumps views on Lutnick, or ask any other further questions, Leavitt launched into a monologue chastising reporters for not asking about various positive statistics touted by the administration on issues of importance to the president.
Read more: https://www.the-independent.com/news/world/americas/us-politics/karoline-leavitt-reporter-lutnick-epstein-island-b2917783.html
bucolic_frolic
(54,537 posts)RecoveringJournalist
(222 posts)The press pool (at least the legit members) should covertly agree in advance that if anyone asks such a legit question and Leave-it refuses to answer, criticizes, attempts to shift focus or anything else, that the very next person called on asks the same question. Make her uncomfortable. If she ends it, fine. It's not like we're getting any good information anyway.
Turbineguy
(39,920 posts)the situation is serious.
Traildogbob
(12,755 posts)AZJonnie
(3,273 posts)It's "funny" that in the very same gathering, she took the opportunity to chastise other people for not cutting ties with Epstein as early as Trump did, but she sure didn't want to talk about one of those very people (who ALSO lied about it), did she now?
erronis
(23,170 posts)I've been married to someone who was as cultist as the trumpers are - but I got out as the veneer started coming off. I don't know how he put up with KA for as long as he did - good sex?
berksdem
(909 posts)this needs to be asked at every chance. Lutnick is a criminal and need to face the music.
do not let up!
mahatmakanejeeves
(68,842 posts)She's not wearing a cross on a necklace.
The White House
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Grokenstein
(6,302 posts)Just like he does to everyone.
It will be the ONLY day I want to see her if-a-praying-mantis-disguised-herself-as-human face.
Cirsium
(3,687 posts)She isn't looking as chipper and perky nor sounding as glib as she did a short while back.
BurnDoubt
(1,589 posts)You should only ask questions when she knows the answers.
Moving On
is NOT an answer.
BidenRocks
(2,967 posts)I am insulted that they think we are believing ANY of their bullshit!
Lying to congressional hearings?
Lock him up!
Perv!
SergeStorms
(20,222 posts)Obviously the Epstein probe isn't important to him, or any other republican.
And MAGAts were positive tRump would finally get to the bottom of this Epstein thing because of all the Democrats it would name.
OK.
Whatever happened to "promises made, promises kept?"
progressoid
(52,830 posts)BumRushDaShow
(167,315 posts)after churning through a couple Press Secretaries.
progressoid
(52,830 posts)Once she starts to flail about on a regular basis, she's gone. Or when the they can no longer stop the onslaught of actual questions from what's left of the media.
Frankly, I'm kind of surprised she's still there. But she is very tenacious in her lying.
BumRushDaShow
(167,315 posts)Huckleberry Hound made it for 1 1/2 years while eventually having only intermittent briefings, with dozens of days without one in between sudden appearances, then Grisly Grisham came in and had none at all other than reporters running after her and 45 trying to get statements, and she was ditched after 9 months, and finally Craycrayleigh finished them off after somewhat restoring the actual "press briefing" practice since they were having daily COVID briefings to spread lies and misinformation.
So we'll see how long this one lasts.
Jughead
(134 posts)Resign now Karoline or go down with the ship.
OldBaldy1701E
(10,688 posts)She won't be able to lie or run away. Shew won't be able to hide or scream her way out of it.
Just hours and hours of her being asked about what she knew and why she did not do something about it as a government 'agent'. She won't be able to play her usual games and, if there is a higher power, she will end up a whimpering mass of nothing.
Because she, like the rest of those enablers, deserves no less.
