White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt faced significant backlash on social media after claiming President Donald Trump is the most transparent and accessible president in American history, with critics quickly pointing to numerous examples of withheld information and ongoing questions about the president’s health.
Leavitt made the controversial statement on X on Monday, August 25, 2025, as Trump called reporters into the Oval Office where he signed executive orders targeting flag burning and cashless bail. Her assertion that Trump represents unprecedented transparency immediately drew criticism from users who highlighted multiple areas where the administration has been less than forthcoming.
Critics responded by pointing to Trump’s failure to release files related to deceased sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, despite repeated promises from the president and his allies. Social media users also noted the administration’s refusal to provide complete medical information amid mounting questions about Trump’s health, his failure to release tax returns, and the lack of transparency regarding transcripts from meetings with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
The transparency claims come as Trump continues to face scrutiny over visible bruises on both hands that have appeared repeatedly throughout 2025. The 79-year-old president has been spotted with markings on his right hand since at least February, with additional sightings documented in April, June, and July. Most recently, a new bruise appeared on his left hand, captured in a video of Trump playing golf with former baseball pitcher Roger Clemens and others over the weekend at Trump National Golf Club in Virginia.
When asked about the latest bruise on Trump’s left hand, Leavitt provided her standard explanation, telling reporters that the president meets more Americans and shakes hands on a daily basis than any other president in history. The White House previously offered a more detailed medical explanation for the right-hand markings, attributing them to soft-tissue irritation from frequent handshaking and aspirin use.
Trump has been diagnosed with chronic venous insufficiency, a condition that can cause swelling in the lower limbs when the legs fail to pump blood effectively to the heart. The president continues to apply what appears to be makeup or medicinal coverage to his right hand to conceal the markings, creating a large pale patch visible even from several feet away.
The visibility of Trump’s hand coverings became particularly apparent in a birthday message shared by the Trump War Room account on August 24, celebrating Leavitt’s 28th birthday. The photograph showed the president and press secretary walking through the White House, with the pale patch on his right hand clearly visible despite the attempted concealment.
Leavitt, who became the youngest person in U.S. history to serve as White House press secretary when she took the role in January 2025, has consistently defended Trump throughout various controversies. Born on August 24, 1998, she previously served as an assistant press secretary during Trump’s first term from 2019 to 2021.
Social media users responding to Leavitt’s transparency claims raised additional concerns about the administration’s lack of openness regarding visitor logs for both the White House and Mar-a-Lago, Trump’s academic records from Wharton, and details about what left administration officials looking ashen during a recent stop in Anchorage. The criticism extended beyond health concerns to questions about the administration’s broader commitment to government transparency.
The controversy over Trump’s health disclosures reflects broader tensions between the administration and media outlets seeking more complete information about the 79-year-old president’s medical condition. Despite Leavitt’s claims about unprecedented accessibility, critics argue that the administration’s selective disclosure practices contradict assertions of full transparency.
The backlash against Leavitt’s transparency claims highlights ongoing debates about presidential accountability and the public’s right to comprehensive health information about their elected leaders. Trump’s continued use of apparent makeup to cover hand markings, combined with the administration’s limited medical disclosures, has fueled continued speculation about his overall health status as he serves his second term as president.
The 28-year-old press secretary, who married real estate developer Nicholas Riccio in 2023 and had a son named Nicholas Robert Riccio in 2024, continues to face questions about balancing her defense of Trump with growing public demands for greater transparency from the administration.
