Additional Coverage:
Fox News viewers quickly noticed an awkward moment during Karoline Leavitt’s return to the network following her maternity leave.
Leavitt, the 28-year-old White House Press Secretary for President Donald Trump, made her comeback on Fox and Friends just eight weeks after giving birth to her second child, Viviana, on May 1. During the segment, she delivered a spirited update on the president’s upcoming schedule for the Fourth of July celebrations marking America’s 250th birthday, blending patriotic enthusiasm with pointed political commentary.
However, social media users were quick to highlight the nearly empty State Fair grounds visible behind Leavitt as she spoke. Wearing a bright red blazer, dark pants, and a cowl-neck top, she enthusiastically described the festivities, despite the sparse attendance seen in the background. This came amid reports that President Trump himself dismissed the related housing bill as a “big yawn.”
Leavitt outlined the president’s plans for the week: a speech at the Theodore Roosevelt Library in North Dakota on Wednesday, an appearance at Mount Rushmore in South Dakota on Friday, and a major Fourth of July address accompanied by what was promoted as the largest fireworks display in history.
The show’s Instagram post announcing her appearance read, “The biggest birthday party in our nation’s history starts… NOW! @karolineleavitt stopped by to fill us in on the president’s jam-packed schedule this week.”
Yet viewer comments quickly focused on the lack of crowds, with remarks such as “LOW ATTENDANCE A FLOP” and “Nobody behind her, so coooool.” Others poked fun at the minimal turnout, sarcastically noting “All of the 10 people at the fair” and questioning where everyone was.
Since its launch, the Great American State Fair in Washington, D.C., has faced several hurdles, including low attendance, empty vendor booths, weather disruptions, performer cancellations, and organizational challenges. Fox News coverage of the event also appeared to downplay these issues.
For example, correspondent Peter Doocy described the scene as “really something” during an interview with Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins, despite rain-soaked grounds and only a handful of visitors visible across the expansive venue. He acknowledged the poor weather but emphasized that “people are still coming out,” even as the footage showed largely deserted spaces.
The gap between the promotional messaging and on-the-ground reality did not go unnoticed by viewers, who seized on the contrast during Leavitt’s televised update.