Trump Draws Attention for Unusual Praise of Press Secretary During Economic Rally

Introducing Leavitt to the cheering crowd, Trump called her a “superstar,” repeatedly asking supporters whether they agreed with his assessment. Leavitt, who previously served as an assistant press secretary in Trump’s first administration between 2019 and 2021, has been a prominent face of the current White House communications team. A New Hampshire native, she is married to 60-year-old real estate developer Nicholas Riccio, with whom she shares a son, Niko.

Trump’s remarks grew more pointed as he spoke about Leavitt’s frequent appearances on Fox News, praising both her confidence and her looks. “When she gets up there with that beautiful face and those lips that don’t stop-op-op-op, like a little machine gun,” he said, adding sound effects that drew a mix of cheers and raised eyebrows across social media once footage of the comment began circulating.

The off-script moment quickly overshadowed the policy focus of the speech and renewed longstanding scrutiny of Trump’s rhetorical style, particularly his tendency to make personal or appearance-based remarks about women in his orbit. While the White House did not immediately respond to questions about the president’s comments, analysts noted that such episodes often distract from the administration’s intended message.

As the 2024 political climate intensifies, the incident underscores how Trump’s unscripted commentary continues to shape public perception and dominate news cycles—sometimes eclipsing the policy agenda his team aims to promote.