White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt had her work cut out for her Monday, as she tried to explain away President Trump’s startling admission at a memorial service that he “hates” his political opponents.
Asked during a press briefing how Trump’s remark aligned with any desire to lower the temperature on political violence, Leavitt dodged the substance entirely.
“Look, the president is authentically himself. I think that’s why millions of Americans across the country love him and support him, including Erika Kirk,” she said.
That was her answer. Trump says he hates people—but it’s okay, because he’s “authentic.”
The moment she was referring to took place Sunday, during a memorial for Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk at State Farm Stadium in Arizona. While the crowd was there to mourn and celebrate Kirk’s life, Trump used the opportunity to launch into a partisan diatribe.
“He did not hate his opponents. He wanted the best for them. That’s where I disagreed with Charlie. I hate my opponent, and I don’t want the best for them. I’m sorry,” Trump said, not even trying to soften the statement.
The comment landed like a brick, especially given that it came just minutes after Charlie’s widow, Erika Kirk, gave a heartfelt speech urging love and forgiveness—even for enemies.
“The answer to hate is not hate. The answer we know from the gospel is love and always love. Love for our enemies and love for those who persecute us,” she told the crowd.
That contrast couldn’t have been starker. But instead of walking anything back or clarifying Trump’s intent, Leavitt leaned in. The president’s hatred, she argued, is what makes him real. And being “real,” apparently, is what voters love.
But Trump’s pattern of stoking division—especially at events meant for unity—is nothing new. During the same speech, he veered off to attack the left, insinuating without evidence that Kirk’s killer was ideologically aligned with his political enemies.
“No side in American politics has a monopoly on disturbed or misguided people, but there’s one part of our political community which believes they have a monopoly on truth, goodness and virtue,” Trump said, calling Kirk’s death “the eventual consequence of that kind of thinking.”
This comes despite the Justice Department saying there’s no evidence the suspect is connected to any left-wing organization or ideology.
Trump’s tactic was clear: use the grief of a high-profile moment to stoke more grievance. And when pressed on whether this sort of rhetoric might pour gasoline on the fire of political violence—Leavitt shrugged it off with a line about authenticity.
It tracks with Trump’s public persona. Just last week, aboard Air Force One, he cracked to reporters:
“Fly safely. You know why I say that? Because I’m on the flight. I want to get home, otherwise I wouldn’t care.”
That kind of self-serving honesty has always been part of his appeal to his rabid supporters. But for a president giving a eulogy, telling a grieving widow he disagreed with her late husband’s compassion, and then proclaiming hate from the podium, isn’t “authentic.” It’s reckless.
Watch the clip below:
