White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt abruptly cut short a press briefing on Tuesday after a reporter asked about Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick’s ties to convicted sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein. The exchange came hours after Lutnick admitted to visiting Epstein’s private island, Little Saint James, during a Senate Commerce Committee hearing.
Leavitt, who was about 20 minutes into her regular briefing, stated that President Donald Trump “fully supports” Lutnick, describing him as “a very important member of President Trump's team.” However, she then launched into a monologue criticising reporters for not asking about administration “wins,” such as stock market results and reductions in crime, before walking out of the room with aides.
The questioning followed the release of Justice Department documents showing Lutnick maintained ties with Epstein until 2018, despite previously claiming he cut off contact after a 2005 encounter. During his Senate testimony, Lutnick acknowledged having lunch on Epstein’s island in 2012 with his wife and children, but said he “barely had anything to do with that person.”
Leavitt also addressed a separate document alleging Trump spoke to a Palm Beach police chief about Epstein in 2006. She did not confirm the call but insisted Trump has always been “honest and transparent” about his relationship with Epstein, whom he once counted as a close friend before a falling-out in the early 2000s.
