Karoline Leavitt Makes Startling ‘Confession’ in Bizarre Video

Karoline Leavitt is usually known for doing battle from the White House briefing room podium. But in a strange new behind-the-scenes video, President Donald Trump’s press secretary tried to tell the public that the hard-charging version they see on camera is not the “real” her.

Leavitt, 28, appeared in an Instagram Stories clip posted by her hair and makeup artist, Brittany Danielle, in what was billed as a “glam session confessional.” The video showed the White House press secretary with a roller still sitting in her hair as she laughed through a surprisingly awkward exchange about her personality.

“What’s your question?” Leavitt asked at the start of the clip.

She was then asked what people do not know about her unless they are close to her.

Leavitt giggled, hesitated and said, “Ummm, I don’t know.”

The exchange only got more unusual from there. Her makeup artist pressed her on whether she was “a funny person” or “a boring person,” prompting Leavitt to insist that there is a much softer version of herself behind the combative public image.

“I don’t think people realize that I am silly. I’m funny, I think,” she said.

Then came the line that raised eyebrows. Leavitt, the youngest person ever to serve as White House press secretary, appeared to acknowledge that her aggressive briefing-room style is not exactly who she is off camera.

“Well, because when I’m out of the podium I’m getting after it,” Leavitt said, clapping her hands. “But I’m not like that in real life, so you know, you just have to get to know me to know the real me.”

For a press secretary who has built her reputation on sharp attacks, rapid-fire defenses of Trump and tense exchanges with reporters, the confession offered a rare glimpse at the performance behind the podium. It also fit neatly into Trump’s long-running taste for made-for-TV politics.

Trump, a former reality television star, has often favored advisers and spokespeople who look and sound like they were chosen from “central casting.” Leavitt’s video seemed to pull the curtain back on that dynamic, showing the carefully styled media warrior in a much more staged and playful setting.

The clip was just one part of a larger behind-the-scenes social media package. Brittany Danielle also posted videos of herself walking around the White House grounds and halls, showing off makeup products and capturing Leavitt alongside Trump’s daughter-in-law, Lara Trump, and other staffers.

The soundtrack for the visit included “Million Cash” by Connor Prince and Armani White, a remix of “Girls Just Wanna Have Fun,” and Iggy Azalea’s “Work,” giving the whole display the feel of a political influencer vlog more than a sober day inside the West Wing.

The timing made the video even more striking. The clips surfaced Thursday, the same day Leavitt held a White House press briefing where she fielded questions on Iran, a possible nuclear deal with Saudi Arabia and the stalled election legislation in Congress. She also took aim at Senate Majority Leader John Thune, keeping up the pugnacious style that has made her a favorite in Trump’s orbit.

In another post, Danielle said Leavitt was also preparing for an interview with Trump for Lara Trump’s Fox News show after her July 23 briefing, and that she was staying nearby for touch-ups.

Leavitt has become one of Trump’s most visible defenders in Washington. Trump has praised her as a “superstar” and once complimented her “machine gun” lips, a remark that fit with his admiration for aides who can aggressively sell his message on television.

But away from the podium, Leavitt has also leaned heavily into personal branding. She frequently shares White House behind-the-scenes content on Instagram, along with family photos and glimpses of her life outside politics.

Her husband, real estate developer Nicholas Riccio, is 32 years older than she is. Leavitt has described their marriage as an “atypical love story,” and the couple has been photographed together at major political and social events, including the 2026 White House Correspondents’ Dinner in April. Days later, on May 1, Leavitt gave birth to their daughter, Viviana. The couple also has a son, Niko.

Leavitt, a New Hampshire native who previously ran unsuccessfully for Congress, has posted photos of her family attending White House events, including the Easter Egg Roll and Halloween celebrations. She has also shared more ordinary moments, including meal prep and trips back to her home state.

Still, the “real me” video was different. For critics, it offered an unusually blunt reminder that the modern White House communications machine is part governance, part performance and part influencer-style content strategy.

For Leavitt, it may have been intended as a harmless glimpse at her lighter side. Instead, it gave viewers something much more revealing: a press secretary admitting that the fire-breathing podium persona Americans see on camera may be only one role in a much bigger political show.