US3 min(s) read
A tense conversation between White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt and Trump adviser Natalie Harp has sparked speculation online after a lipreader claimed to have worked out what the pair were saying.
The exchange comes shortly after Leavitt announced that she would be leaving her role at the White House later this month, saying she wanted to devote more time to her young family.
Leavitt, who became the youngest person ever appointed to the position, described her departure as a “bittersweet decision”.
However, footage appearing to show her in a serious conversation with Harp has prompted questions about whether there was more behind her decision to leave.
In the video, Leavitt can be seen sitting opposite Harp while President Donald Trump is also nearby. The pair appear to have an intense conversation, with both women occasionally looking at their phones.
According to lipreader Nicola Hickling, Leavitt appears to ask: “Are you sure?”
Harp allegedly responds: “We don’t like it. There’s going to be an announcement as soon as possible, okay?”
Leavitt then appears to sigh and rub her arms before pointing towards Harp. Part of her response is obscured as she leans forward.
Harp can subsequently be seen saying: “This has now happened twice.”
It remains unclear what the pair were discussing, and the lipreader's interpretation has not been independently verified.
The footage was shared on X by user Call to Activism, who wrote: “In a LEAKED video from last night, she looks visibly isolated during a tense Marine One exchange with Trump and another woman. Hours later, she's out. Is the WH covering up something?”
The footage surfaced after Leavitt announced her decision to leave the White House.
In a statement, she explained that becoming a mother had changed her priorities, writing: “The truth is since returning to the White House after the birth of my daughter, I have felt in my heart that I cannot be the best mom my two young children deserve while devoting the constant time, energy, and attention required of the White House Press Secretary.”
She continued: “And that is why I have ultimately made the bittersweet decision to depart the White House and embark on a new chapter in my life.”
Leavitt's departure follows Trump's public acknowledgement of her resignation, although the president has yet to announce who will replace her in the high-profile position.
Trump appeared supportive of her decision, describing it as a choice “I totally understand and respect!”
He also indicated that Leavitt would remain involved with his political operation, adding: “Karoline will now be one of my top outside advisors, and an influential voice within the Republican Party, as we work to defy History, and conclusively win the Midterm Elections.”
