White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt made a bold claim at a Turning Point USA event at George Washington University on Thursday, April 2, stating that President Donald Trump is “always” the “most well-read person in the room.” The comment quickly sparked skepticism and mockery across social media and from political commentators.
Leavitt made the remark while giving career advice to students, recalling a tip she received from Dana Perino, who served as press secretary to President George W. Bush. Perino had told her, “You always want to be the most well-read person in the room.” Leavitt then added, “And I try to be every day, but Donald Trump always is. That man does not miss a story.” She also suggested that the president is constantly “reading the papers and watching the TV.”
This claim, however, clashes sharply with years of reporting on Trump’s reading habits. During his first term, it was widely reported that he preferred oral intelligence briefings over written ones. According to AOL, a 2018 report stated that Trump made it clear he wasn’t interested in reviewing a personal copy of the written intelligence briefing, commonly known as the PDB.
Donald Trump’s own past statements on reading contradict Leavitt’s glowing praise
Even before he became president, a 2016 report noted that Trump rarely engaged in extensive reading. He said at the time, “I never have. I’m always busy doing a lot. Now I’m more busy, I guess, than ever before.” He also told Axios before his first inauguration that he prefers “bullets” or “as little as possible,” adding, “I don’t need, you know, 200-page reports on something that can be handled on a page. That I can tell you.”
Social media users were quick to push back on Leavitt’s comments. One user on X wrote, “And she says that with a straight face, knowing quite well that Trump doesn’t read and knows nothing. How does anybody trust a word Leavitt is saying? Ever.” Another user quipped, “‘The most well-read person in the room.’ At this point, even the room is raising an eyebrow.”
Some users also pointed to Trump’s recent public appearances. One person on X noted, “He could barely read his own speech last night,” referring to an address on Wednesday, April 1, where Trump appeared to struggle with his words. Reports have also surfaced about Trump using large, handwritten notes during briefings.
Political commentator Vince Wilson also weighed in, saying, “Donald Trump can’t read a room because of his dementia and narcissism.”
Leavitt’s statement comes shortly after reports that Trump threw her under the bus over some negative press. Despite that, she continues to publicly praise him, even when her claims appear to contradict both long-standing reports and Trump’s own past admissions about his reading preferences.
