CNN accused Karoline Leavitt of being a ‘spinmeister’ after her first White House briefing—But the network’s jab may have backfired

Karoline Leavitt, 27, made her debut as the youngest-ever White House press secretary
CNN’s fact-checker Daniel Dale immediately labeled her a ‘spinmeister’ on live air
Leavitt fired back by restructuring media access and calling out ‘legacy press’ directly
Social media reaction split sharply—some called CNN’s move petty, others saw it as necessary pushback

CNN threw the first punch—calling Karoline Leavitt a ‘spinmeister’ just hours after her debut at the White House podium. But it’s what followed that raised eyebrows across political and media circles.

Leavitt, 27, made headlines this week as she conducted her first White House press briefing under President Trump’s second term, becoming the youngest person in U.S. history to hold the role.

But the historic moment was quickly overshadowed by an on-air critique from CNN, where fact-checker Daniel Dale accused Leavitt of “spinning” her answers around the controversial federal spending freeze.

“It’s a classic spinmeister tactic—pretending to answer while dodging the actual question,” Dale said live on CNN News Central.

CNN has baptized new White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt, 27, as a ‘spinmeister’

The network’s fact-checker Daniel Dale, left,  accused Leavitt, 27, of spinning information regarding a pause of federal grants and loans during her first White House press briefing on Tuesday. He is seen with Boris Sanchez and  Brianna Keilar

‘Spinmeister’ label lands fast—and hard

Dale’s remarks came after Leavitt was pressed repeatedly about whether Trump’s federal pause on grants and loans would affect nonprofit programs such as Meals on Wheels.

While Leavitt clearly stated that Social Security, Medicare, and food stamps were not affected, critics accused her of evading questions on support for nonprofits.

“There’s still no clarity on what’s happening with the funding that usually goes to intermediary entities,” Dale said. “She couldn’t—or wouldn’t—answer.”

The term “spinmeister” quickly began trending, with critics using the label to suggest the Trump administration was already reverting to selective messaging just days into the new term.

But was CNN’s move too fast—and too personal?

For many watching, Dale’s commentary didn’t land the way CNN may have hoped.

“Karoline handled the briefing with more poise than half the press corps,” one journalist posted. “Calling her a spinmeister 30 minutes in? That’s not analysis. That’s branding.”

Online reaction was mixed, with conservatives rallying around Leavitt, claiming she had “already broken the legacy media’s playbook” on Day One.

Others on the left defended CNN’s tone, saying tough scrutiny is part of the job—and Leavitt shouldn’t expect special treatment.

President Donald Trump rescinded his order freezing federal funds

Leavitt strikes back—with structure

Rather than addressing CNN directly, Leavitt took action inside the briefing room.

In a move that stunned many longtime reporters, she announced that two front-row seats would now be reserved for “new media” outlets—including independent podcasters, content creators, and digital-first journalists.

“We know legacy media has lost the trust of the American people,” Leavitt said during the briefing. “We will not accept misinformation, and we will call it out.”

The Associated Press—traditionally first in the question queue—was bumped to third.

CNN’s Kaitlan Collins still got a question, but she was no longer first in line.

Press room reset: ‘New media’ now gets first shot

Leavitt said her team would now review and credential “new media” applicants who passed Secret Service vetting and met transparency requirements.

“Starting today, the seat traditionally held by the press secretary’s staff will belong to new media,” she said, drawing immediate applause from some corners—and visible unease from others.

The change is already being dubbed “The Leavitt Rule” in D.C. press circles.

Trump administration lifts funding freeze—claims ‘woke waste’ uncovered

Ironically, by Wednesday—just 24 hours after CNN’s critique—President Trump rescinded the temporary freeze on federal funding, saying the pause had revealed “millions in waste,” particularly within DEI initiatives created under the Biden administration.

The White House claimed it had completed its review and would now reinstate all core funding mechanisms—but emphasized that some programs would face permanent restructuring.

Leavitt, when asked whether the reversal proved critics right, pushed back sharply.

“We froze funding to protect taxpayer dollars. We unfroze it after identifying misuse. That’s not spin—that’s stewardship,” she said.

Press secretary Karoline Leavitt shared photographs of deported illegal immigrants that listed the previous crimes that they committed

Reporters raise their hands throughout the White House briefing room during press secretary Karoline Leavitt’s first briefing of the second Trump administration

Media flashpoint: shifting trust and old dynamics

Leavitt’s first briefing also saw her restate the administration’s position on illegal immigration, calling every undocumented immigrant “a criminal” for violating U.S. law.

“It’s a culture shift,” she said. “The last administration didn’t see it that way—but we do.”

She also showcased images of deported individuals along with criminal charges, defended the use of drones over U.S. airspace as part of federal research, and announced the reinstatement of 440 press passes revoked under Biden.

One line, many reactions

At one point during the session, a reporter asked Leavitt the question posed to every new press secretary:

“Will you pledge not to lie from this podium?”

Her reply was firm:

“I commit to telling the truth every day. And frankly, it’s easy to speak truth from this podium when your president’s policies are wildly popular with the American people.”

Verdict: First test passed—or first cracks showing?

For Karoline Leavitt, being labeled a “spinmeister” in her first 12 hours on the job may have felt like a slap—but her actions afterward suggest she saw it coming.

Whether CNN’s jab was a smart call or a strategic misfire is still up for debate.

But one thing is clear: the media landscape at the White House just changed, and Karoline Leavitt intends to run it on her terms.