White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt holds a briefing at the White House in Washington, D.C., U.S., February 18, 2026. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt didn't hold back Wednesday when a reporter dared to challenge President Donald Trump's bold claims about being falsely labeled a racist.
When asked to provide specific examples of when Trump believed he'd been unfairly branded with the racist label, Leavitt's response was swift and sharp.
"You're kidding, right?" she shot back
The press secretary went on the offensive, declaring "I will pull you plethora of examples," and promising to have her team "going through the internet of radical Democrats throughout the years … who have accused this president falsely of being a racist, and I'm sure there's many people in this room and on network television, across the country, who have accused him of the same."
Leavitt's pushback came after Trump used Reverend Jesse Jackson's death announcement to defend himself, writing that despite being "falsely and consistently called a Racist by the Scoundrels and Lunatics on the Radical Left, Democrats ALL, it was always my pleasure to help Jesse along the way."
The press secretary then pivoted to highlighting Trump's record, pointing to a Black History Month celebration scheduled for later that day. She touted record tax cuts, funding for historically Black colleges and universities, and veterans' benefits for the 2.4 million Black veterans in the armed forces.
"So, there is a lot this president has done for all Americans, regardless of race, and he has absolutely been falsely called and smeared as a racist, and I'm happy to provide you those receipts," Leavitt concluded. "And we gladly will after this briefing."
Reporter: The president said despite the fact that I am falsely consistently called a racist… Where or when does the president believe that he has been falsely called a racist?
Leavitt: You are kidding, right? pic.twitter.com/gcyrS3rV11
— Acyn (@Acyn) February 18, 2026