Jen Psaki isn’t mincing words when it comes to Karoline Leavitt, Donald Trump’s current spokesperson, and her impact on one of Washington’s most visible—and, until now, respected—roles. Appearing on the I’ve Had It podcast, Psaki, herself a former White House press secretary and MSNBC anchor, delivered a blistering critique, accusing Leavitt of “diminishing the role of the press secretary, the honor of being in that job, which is speaking on behalf of the United States of America.” For Psaki, this isn’t just about personality clashes or political gamesmanship—it’s about the very soul of American democracy.

They say it takes one to know one, but not often does that apply to a successor being criticized so hard.Psaki’s frustration was palpable as she described the shift in the White House briefing room from a place of information to what she called “performance art for power.” She recalled her own experience facing seasoned reporters, contrasting it with what she sees as a “Kremlin-style” environment now developing under Trump’s team. Instead of tough, fair questions from legitimate outlets, Psaki warned, the seats are increasingly filled with far-right influencers and partisan commentators—figures like Benny Johnson—whose loyalty is to the administration, not to the truth. “If legitimate outlets walk out of that room, it’s exactly what Trump and Leavitt want,” she said. “They’re filling the seats with propagandists.”

For Psaki, the erosion of the press secretary’s credibility is more than just a sad development—it’s a threat to the institution itself. She pointed out that even during Republican administrations, press secretaries like Dana Perino faced hard questions and respected the democratic purpose of the format. There was, she said, “a shared understanding—that the press room was for information, not indoctrination.” Now, she fears, that standard is slipping away, replaced by a spectacle designed to control both the narrative and the audience.

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Psaki’s comments have struck a nerve among journalists, former officials, and anyone who cares about transparency in government. As Trump’s team continues to reshape the physical and informational control of the White House press corps, the fear is clear: the American people may lose one of their last reliable sources of official information. “It’s sad for the White House. It’s sad for the institution. It’s sad for anyone who’s had that job,” Psaki lamented. “And it really takes it away as something that the American people can rely on as at least a source of information.”

In an era where the line between information and propaganda grows ever thinner, Psaki’s warning is more than just political commentary—it’s a call to defend the truth, before it’s replaced by spectacle and spin.

SOURCE: https://en.as.com/latest_news/former-white-house-press-secretary-jen-psaki-rips-on-karoline-leavitt-it-is-sad-for-the-institution-f202510-n/