Joy Behar ignited a firestorm on national television after making a blatantly sexist comment about Karoline Leavitt, the newly appointed White House Press Secretary. During an episode of The View, Behar remarked, “She’s probably been put in there because, according to Donald Trump, she’s a 10.” Critics slammed the comment for reducing Leavitt’s impressive career to mere looks instead of recognizing her qualifications.

Former Trump administration official Alyssa Farah Griffin defended Leavitt, emphasizing that this was only her first press briefing—not her first job. Farah stressed that Leavitt’s rise is the result of hard work and expertise, not superficial appeal. Likewise, Whoopi Goldberg weighed in, challenging both Behar’s remark and Leavitt’s subsequent comments on eliminating funding for transgender issues and “wokeness” in federal agencies. Goldberg argued that without the hard-fought struggles for equality, women like Leavitt would never have the opportunities they do today.

In a separate move that has also drawn significant attention, Karoline Leavitt introduced a “new media” section to the White House press pool. By reallocating two seats—traditionally reserved for White House staff—to new media outlets, Leavitt aims to hold traditional outlets accountable for misinformation. Additionally, she announced that 440 press credentials revoked by the Biden administration would be reinstated under the Trump 2.0 administration, a move praised for its transparency yet met with skepticism by some media figures like Sunny Hostin.

While Behar’s comment has sparked widespread debate over sexism in political discourse, Leavitt’s bold reforms are being hailed by supporters as the start of a new era in media transparency and accountability at the White House. The controversy highlights the intense scrutiny public figures face in today’s polarized political landscape, as every word and policy change is dissected by both critics and advocates.