Karoline Leavitt, the press secretary at the White House, gained a new moniker from her supporters following a fiery confrontation with Good Morning America’s host, Michael Strahan.
In an interview with Strahan on Wednesday, Leavitt surprised him by staunchly defending President Donald Trump’s push to have federal government employees resume working from their offices in Washington, DC.
Strahan raised concerns about the possibility of government medical professionals and scientists resigning from their positions within the federal government due to the requirement of returning to their physical offices for the full workweek.
‘Is there any concern that we risk losing people with years of experience like doctors and let’s say, scientists?’ he asked.
Leavitt shot back: ‘Well most doctors who work in actual hospitals and medical institutions have to show up in the office.’
Fans of Leavitt rallied to her support, describing her as the ‘grim reaper’ for newscasters like Strahan, a former NFL player for the New York Giants.
‘Karoline Leavitt just took another soul on live TV,’ wrote one supporter on X, sharing video of the exchange. ‘She’s like the fake news’ grim reaper.’
Video of the exchange went viral on social media, earning more than three million views.
‘Stone-cold killer. Will reach legend status,’ wrote social media user JoeT.
Good Morning America host Michael Strahan grilled White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt about Donald Trump’s move to force federal workers back into the office
Leavitt speaks at the White House press briefing room
Others shared a gif of a black cloaked figure with a scythe, marking her victory.
‘Karoline sacked Strahan…,’ wrote fan David Belman on X, referring to the morning show’s previous role as a football player.
Leavitt, 27, has quickly earned support from the president and his supporters, as the youngest press secretary in the history of the job.
She made her debut in the White House press briefing room on Tuesday, announcing she was shaking up the seating slots by offering seats to new media outlets and influencers.
‘Whether you are a TikTok content creator, a blogger, a podcaster, if you are producing legitimate news content, no matter the medium, you will be allowed to apply for press credentials in this White House,’ she announced.
Within hours, 7,400 people already signed up for a seat.
When she’s not in-person at her office at the White House, Leavitt is at home with her husband Nicholas Riccio and her baby son Niko.
She was grateful after Trump campaign managers Susie Wiles and Chris LaCivita offered her a job, even though she was expecting a child in the middle of the campaign.
She gave birth in July.
‘It’s true when they say there’s nothing comparable to the love you feel for your child. My heart has grown bigger than I ever imagined possible,’ she wrote on Instagram celebrating the birth of her son.
Strahan expressed concerns that government doctors and scientists would leave their jobs rather than return to work five days a week in their offices
Trump speaks to reporters aboard Air Force One with Leavitt
Leavitt even stepped into work three days later, after Trump was shot by a gunman during a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania.
‘The president literally put his life on the line to win this election. The least I could do is get back to work quickly,’ she said to The Conservator in an interview in October.
She was appointed by Trump to serve as press secretary in the White House, taking her place with other professionals in the White House.
‘He doesn’t care if you’re a man or a woman, with kids or no kids,’ Leavitt explained about the president. ‘He just wants the hardest worker and the best person for the job. And that’s what makes him a great boss.’
She said on social media it was a difficult sacrifice to work at the White House, but an honor.
‘I remind myself this job is temporary, it’s the opportunity of a lifetime, and I know one day he will be proud of his mama,’ she told supporters.
Leavitt went viral in June after she voiced concerns on CNN about ‘biased’ debate moderators Jake Tapper and Dana Bash.
CNN Anchor Kasie Hunt cut off Leavitt’s microphone and ended the interview, declaring that she would not stand for attacks on her colleagues and their journalistic integrity.
One fan noted that it was easier for a communications professional to be combative during a presidential campaign, but the tone had to shift after the president took office.
Leavitt in the Oval Office
Trump press secretary Karoline Leavitt and President Donald Trump
‘It gets tougher when you need to be gracious to those the wish the worst for you. But she does it well,’ wrote Jesse Bronx on X. ‘We love Karoline Leavitt.’
Leavitt went on to defend Trump’s order for federal workers to return to the office.
‘We know that employees are more productive and more efficient when they are working in an in-office environment,’ she added.
Trump signed an executive order demanding that federal agencies come up with a return to work plan to get workers back in the office.
‘Don’t forget it’s the American people that are funding this government and they deserve people that are actually showing up to work on their behalf,’ she said.
On Wednesday, Leavitt noted that just six percent of federal workers in Washington, DC were working full time in their offices.
‘This government has been wasting millions of dollars on empty office space that is beautiful, I mean look at the beautiful buildings in this city. They’re gorgeous, they’ve been here for decades,’ she said.
Earlier in the week, Trump issued an option for federal workers to take a buyout, to get full pay and benefits until September if they chose to resign their positions.
They have to resign by February 6th to take advantage of the proposal.
