Karoline Leavitt Steps Into Fox News Contributor Role Following Network Clash With Trump
WASHINGTON, DC — Following the announcement that former White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt is transitioning to Fox News, a satirical post went viral online, falsely claiming she viewed the position as a stepping stone to becoming the Secretary of Defense. The fabricated narrative quickly gained traction, triggering online backlash and prompting a necessary fact-check.
The Viral Rumor: A Bid for Defense Secretary?
A widely shared Facebook post claimed that upon joining the Fox News Channel, Leavitt remarked that the role would serve as a launchpad for her eventual appointment as Defense Secretary.
The spoof quoted her as saying that working as an on-air television personality was essential to developing the “warrior ethos” required to command the United States military.
“I’ve watched YouTube mascara tutorials and spent hours sampling blush at Sephora,” the fake quote read. “But if I’m going to launch unprovoked attacks on other countries, I need to put in the hard yards of getting my hair and makeup done at Fox.”
Accumulating tens of thousands of views, the post fooled numerous social media users, leading to widespread criticism of Leavitt based on entirely fictitious remarks.
Fact Check: Tracing the Satire
In reality, the claim is completely unfounded, and the statements attributed to the former press secretary were entirely made up.
Leavitt has made no such remarks in interviews, official statements, or across her social media accounts regarding aspirations for the Cabinet-level position.
Had the 29-year-old made such a striking declaration, it would have been picked up immediately by mainstream news organizations. Comprehensive searches across major search engines returned zero legitimate reports supporting the claim.
The rumor originated from the well-known satirical publication *The Borowitz Report* via its official Facebook page managed by Andy Borowitz.
Leavitt’s Upcoming Move to Fox News
Leavitt’s actual transition to Fox News as an on-air contributor comes closely on the heels of a public rebuke of the network by President Donald Trump amid ongoing tensions over White House press access.
The network confirmed that Leavitt will officially step into her new role on November 1. This follows her departure from the administration earlier this fall after the birth of her second child.
Expressing enthusiasm for the new chapter, Leavitt noted that she plans to bring her extensive White House experience and characteristic “energy and candor” to the network’s broadcasts.
Leavitt is not the first prominent administration figure to transition to the network; Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth previously served as a Fox News host and contributor, while the president’s daughter-in-law, Lara Trump, joined the network in 2025.