In a December 1, 2025 White House briefing in Washington, D.C., White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt confronted New York Times White House correspondent Katie Rogers, accusing a recent Times piece about President Trump’s energy and stamina of being a misleading portrait. Leavitt said the article, which she characterized as inaccurate, relied on selective framing of meetings and daily schedules. She contrasted the Times report with the White House’s broader effort to counter what it calls “fake news,” urging reporters to seek the full, factual picture.
Leavitt pointed to prior Times coverage, suggesting inconsistency in the paper’s reporting and arguing that the president remains highly active and accessible, with meetings happening around the clock. She argued that coverage of Trump’s energy should be contextualized within the administration’s long hours and busy schedule, and she criticized reporting that she said portrayed the presidency as less vigorous than it actually is.
The exchange drew on a broader theme of ongoing tension between the Trump administration’s messaging and coverage from major outlets. Leavitt highlighted past Times articles about President Biden’s health and energy to illustrate what she described as a double standard in coverage, asserting that readers deserve a consistently balanced and accurate portrayal.
In response, The New York Times defended its coverage, saying its White House team— including Rogers—has reported across administrations with independence and seriousness, and that personal name-calling does not alter the facts. The Times emphasized that its reporting on Trump, Biden, and other leaders is guided by first-hand sources and rigorous reporting, a point it reiterated in a statement provided to Fox News Digital.
The back-and-forth occurs as Fox News and other outlets cover the incident, alongside a companion NYT piece on Trump’s age and health. The moment underscored the enduring friction between the White House and the press as supporters of the former president watch for signs of fatigue amid intense scrutiny of a presidency under pressure.
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