A moment from White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt’s Tuesday briefing is going viral, with critics saying it perfectly encapsulates the Trump White House’s approach to foreign affairs.
Leavitt was asked if the White House had a response to the presidential election in South Korea, where liberal candidate Lee Jae-myung defeated conservative rival Kim Moon Soo.
“Yes, we do. In fact. Let me find it here for you,” Leavitt said, flipping through a binder in front of her.
“Should be somewhere in here,” she said, still flipping through.
Q: Does the White House have a reaction to the election in South Korea?
LEAVITT: Yes, we do. Let me find it for you. Thank you. Um. We do not. pic.twitter.com/ROycyonXUn
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) June 3, 2025
After a pause and more shuffling, she added: “Hmm. We do not.”
She laughed awkwardly as she said, “But I will get you one,” before abruptly moving on to a new question from another reporter.
The clip quickly gained traction on social media.
Critics said it showcased the Trump administration’s lack of preparation and attention to world events.
“A total clown show,” remarked the Republicans Against Trump group.
When she gets a question that requires her to give an answer that doesn’t involve praising Trump or trashing Biden, she’s got nothing. https://t.co/x38FESqzhj
— Ron Filipkowski (@RonFilipkowski) June 3, 2025
A White House run by dumbasses
— Sycamore’s Source (@sycamoressource) June 3, 2025
Q: Does the White House have a reaction to the election results in South Korea?
WH Press Secretary Leavitt: “Yes, we do. In fact, Let me find it for you. It should be somewhere here. Thank you. Um. We do not.”
A total clown show.
pic.twitter.com/2tR4CGjePM— Republicans against Trump (@RpsAgainstTrump) June 3, 2025
Karoline saying “we do” and then immediately following it with “we do not” is the most honest accidental summary of this administration’s foreign policy: confused, unprepared, and trying to fake it with a binder full of nothing.
Pam Bondi did that with Epstein files. It’s their…
— Evaristus Odinikaeze (@odinikaeze) June 3, 2025
Follow up should have been, “Does the White House KNOW there was an election in South Korea?” https://t.co/GmoXrCQXpw
— Jo (@JoJoFromJerz) June 3, 2025
