Former White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt has drawn criticism from some supporters of Donald Trump after publicly describing conversations from private meetings involving the president and foreign leaders. Leavitt, who left her White House position earlier in 2026 after returning from maternity leave, discussed the encounters during an appearance on the Hang Out with Sean Hannity podcast. She recalled attending a lunch with Trump and former British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, saying Trump directly challenged Starmer over his government’s policies, including immigration and border controls. Leavitt also said Trump generally speaks privately with foreign leaders much as he does publicly, describing him as candid and direct. She additionally discussed Trump’s conversations with Chinese President Xi Jinping, saying he encouraged Xi to purchase more American soybeans as part of his efforts to support U.S. farmers.

The comments prompted a reaction from Greg Kelly, a Newsmax host and Trump supporter, who criticized Leavitt for sharing details from private diplomatic encounters. Kelly characterized her remarks as a breach of trust involving both Trump and the country, arguing that former officials should exercise greater discretion when discussing sensitive meetings. His criticism was directed specifically at Leavitt’s decision to recount private conversations after leaving her White House role. Trump has not publicly responded to Kelly’s comments, and Leavitt has not publicly addressed the criticism described in the article. The episode highlights the tension that can arise when former government officials discuss behind-the-scenes interactions with foreign leaders after leaving office, particularly when those accounts involve conversations that were not originally made public.