During a press briefing on January 20, 2024, Donald Trump made headlines by criticizing Karoline Leavitt while delivering an awkward joke. The event marked Trump’s first year back in office and was characterized by a mix of humor and serious commentary on various issues, including the state of the economy.
Leavitt, the White House press secretary, had teased on social media prior to the briefing that a “very special guest” would join her at the podium. Trump, who is now 79 years old, appeared with a booklet titled “Accomplishments,” joking that it would take him more than a week to read all of its contents. He provocatively declared, “It’s big stuff too. We have the hottest country in the world,” before tossing the booklet onto the floor.
Throughout the briefing, Trump expressed frustration regarding his administration’s messaging on economic performance. He stated, “In the old days, if you had good numbers, the market would go through the roof. Today we have good numbers, the market goes down.” He emphasized that despite inheriting a difficult economic situation, his administration had improved various statistics, claiming, “We brought them way down.”
Trump also pointed fingers at his communications team for failing to effectively convey his administration’s achievements. “I mean, I’m not getting—maybe I have bad public relations people, but we’re not getting it across,” he remarked, highlighting the disconnect between positive economic indicators and public perception.
As the briefing progressed, Trump made bold assertions regarding his role as president and his relationship with faith. He claimed that God would be “very proud” of him, stating, “I think God is very proud of the job I’ve done, and that includes for religion.” He elaborated on his immigration policies, suggesting that those removed from the country by his administration were more dangerous than notorious groups like the Hell’s Angels. “I like the Hell’s Angels,” he said. “They voted for me. They protected me, actually.”
The press conference took place just hours before Trump was scheduled to travel to Europe for discussions with global leaders. These talks are expected to cover a range of topics, including his controversial ambitions concerning Greenland and the formation of a new international peacemaking body.
With crucial midterm elections approaching, fellow Republicans have urged Trump to align his messaging more closely with voter concerns, particularly regarding affordability. “One of the reasons I’m doing this news conference, I think it’s important — we have taken a mess and made it really good,” Trump stated, expressing optimism about future improvements.
As the political landscape evolves, Trump’s remarks and actions continue to draw attention, underscoring the importance of effective communication in leadership.
