Trump's Turbulence Comment About Press Secretary Draws Widespread Condemnation
Former American President Donald Trump often displays a fun-loving personality with peculiar humor. The 79-year-old Republican leader never hesitates to voice whatever crosses his mind. He openly admits his tendency to wander during speeches and read notes aloud. However, his latest remark concerning White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt failed to amuse the internet. Instead, it provoked significant anger toward the former president.
The Incident Aboard Air Force One
On January 11, Trump participated in a mid-flight press interview while returning to Washington from his Florida residence at Mar-a-Lago. Unexpected turbulence struck the aircraft during the conversation. Trump began searching for something to hold onto to maintain his balance. He then commented on the only person standing behind him, Karoline Leavitt.
"I'm looking for something to grab here because it's going to get rough. I don't seem to be in a great... I think you did this to me. You put me in a position where there is absolutely nothing to grab. So I'm looking for something to grab, and it's not going to be Karoline," Trump stated on camera.
As Trump turned to continue his search, Leavitt stepped aside and pointed out a nearby handle for him to grasp.
Netizens React Strongly to the Viral Video
The video of this exchange spread rapidly across social media platforms. It generated numerous comments criticizing the president's thoughtless remark. Many users questioned the appropriateness and tone of his words.
- One X user wrote, "What A Creep!"
- Another observed, "Karoline is smiling but she is scared of Trump not sure what he may do."
- A third person condemned, "Always with the tasteless comments, even at a moment like that."
- Someone else quipped, "Absolute Clownism from him."
Trump and Leavitt's Previous Interactions
This incident does not mark the first time Trump has commented about the 28-year-old press secretary. Previously, he made extensive remarks regarding Leavitt's physical appearance and professional abilities.
"She's become a star. It's that face. It's that brain. It's those lips, the way they move. They move like she's a machine gun," Trump said on an earlier occasion.
The comparison of Leavitt's lips to a 'machine gun' drew immediate online criticism. Many people labeled the remark as entirely inappropriate.
Trump's History of Surprising Comments About Women
Karoline Leavitt is not the only woman who has received eye-raising comments from Trump. During a White House Christmas reception, Trump paused mid-speech and grinned at a woman in the audience.
"Boy, you look like Ivanka," he said, referring to his 44-year-old daughter. "Has anyone ever told you that? I'm looking and saying, 'Is that Ivanka?'"
He even asked the woman to "turn around for the camera" and requested the crowd's opinion. "Doesn't she look like Ivanka? It's the most unbelievable thing," he declared.
Before that incident, Trump made a shocking comment about his wife's undergarments. Speaking at a North Carolina rally in December 2025, he diverged from his main topic to discuss the FBI raid on his Mar-a-Lago resort in 2022.
"They went into my wife's closet ... they looked at her drawers," he said, referring to Melania. The GOP leader continued, "Her undergarments, sometimes referred to as panties, are folded perfect, wrapped. They're, like, so perfect." He even joked about her maintenance habits, stating, "I think that she steams them."
Some individuals view these remarks as expressions of Trump's humorous nature. Others believe they frequently cross personal and professional boundaries.
