Karoline Levitt ditches religious necklace after Jon Stewart's brutal joke: ‘Some sort of weird Pinocchio cross'
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt was seen without her cross necklace following the mockery of Daily Show host Jon Stewart.
Leavitt appeared for her briefing on Tuesday in a navy blazer, but she had chosen to forego her signature jewelry.
On Monday night, Stewart skewered Leavitt, saying, 'By the way, I think that the more she lies, the bigger her cross gets. Is that possible? It's like some sort of weird Pinocchio cross.'
The host also noted that Leavitt is likely to be 'the only one' who will be able to leave the administration 'unscathed … Because I don't think that she has any principles in there left to die.'
Stewart went on to say he's "not even upset with this lady. Because just rolling with the punches is clearly the only strategy for happiness when you're working for Trump.'
"Trump's very open secret has always been: He doesn't believe in or care about any policy issue at all. He wants attention, he wants his ego stroked, and he wants money. He wants f***wads and f***wads of money,' he added.
Leavitt, 27, told the Christian Broadcasting Network earlier this year that "My faith is incredibly important to me, I would argue, now more than ever, being in a role that is very demanding and at times controversial, and there's a lot of public pressure and discussion online about who you are and your family.'
She added that 'it could be difficult for someone who doesn't have faith, but with faith, all things are possible.'
Leavitt faced criticism in April for her comments about Kilmar Abrego Garcia, who was mistakenly deported to El Salvador earlier this year.
She attempted to connect Garcia to the 2023 rape and murder of a Maryland woman, whose killer was convicted that same month.
'He will never live in the United States again,' Leavitt said of Garcia.
'She gets up there, and, with a cross around her neck, she lies. She violates the ninth commandment about not bearing false witness,' Andy Levy said on The New Abnormal podcast. 'She sits up there and says over and over again that Garcia was a member of the MS 13 gang. She takes it a step further, and she says that this was a finding of an immigration court. It absolutely was not.'
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American Military News
a day ago
- American Military News
European diplomats seek progress with Tehran as Trump considers US action in Iran
This article was originally published by Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty and is reprinted with permission. The top diplomats from France, Britain, and Germany are headed to Geneva to meet with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi in hopes of finding a diplomatic solution one week into the latest Iran-Israel conflict. With the clock ticking after the White House said US President Donald Trump will make a decision 'within two weeks' on whether to get directly involved in the fighting, the meeting of foreign ministers on June 20 has taken on even greater importance to stop air strikes that have killed civilians on both sides. French President Emmanuel Macron said France, Germany and Britain would put 'a diplomatic solution on the table' in Geneva that would comprise oversight of Iran's ballistics activities and how it finances proxies in the region, a resumption of work by the International Atomic Energy Agency inside Iran to ensure uranium enrichment is stopped, and the release of foreigners currently held by Tehran. 'Iran must show that it is willing to join the platform for negotiations we are putting on the table,' Macron said. Israel has threatened further attacks against Iran's nuclear and ballistic missile assets as the violence showed no signs of easing a week after the Israelis began the air strikes. 'Based on the fact that there's a substantial chance of negotiations that may or may not take place with Iran in the near future, I will make my decision whether or not to go within the next two weeks,' White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said, reading out a message from Trump on June 19. The Pentagon has in the past acknowledged that it has helped to shoot down Iranian projectiles launched toward Israel, but it has not become involved in offensive operations against Iran. During a press briefing, Leavitt said the US president favored a diplomatic solution with Tehran but that his main goal was to ensure that Iran could not obtain a nuclear weapon. She reiterated Trump's insistence that any agreement would have to prohibit uranium enrichment by Iran and ensure that Tehran was not able to get nuclear arms. Iran has insisted its nuclear program is for civilian purposes and has often rejected a ban on uranium enrichment. 'The president is always interested in a diplomatic solution…he is a peacemaker in chief. He is the peace through strength president. And so, if there's a chance for diplomacy, the president's always going to grab it,' Leavitt said. 'But he's not afraid to use strength as well, I will add,' she told reporters. On his Truth Social platform, Trump rejected a Wall Street Journal report — which cited three people familiar with the matter — that said he had told aides he had approved plans for US forces to join Israel in the attacks on Iran but that he was first waiting to see if Tehran would give up its nuclear program. 'The Wall Street Journal has No Idea what my thoughts are concerning Iran!' Trump wrote. Bloomberg also reported, citing people familiar with the matter, that US officials are preparing for a potential strike on Iran in the next few days, possibly over the weekend. In comments to reporters on June 18, Trump said he was 'not looking to fight' Iran but that he might be forced to conduct such operations to prevent Tehran from developing nuclear weapons. 'I'm not looking to fight,' he said. 'But if it's a choice between fighting and [Iran] having a nuclear weapon, you have to do what you have to do.' 'You may have to fight,' he later stated. 'I may do it. I may not do it. I mean, nobody knows what I'm going to do,' Trump told reporters later outside the White House. In a televised interview, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel is 'capable of striking all of Iran's nuclear facilities' but 'all help is welcome.' 'Trump will do what is good for the United States, and I will do what is good for the state of Israel,' Netanyahu said. Much of the speculation about the attacks has turned to Iran's Fordow uranium enrichment facility, which is hidden under a mountain and considered to be out of reach of Israeli weapons but susceptible to US 'bunker-buster' bombs. Israel vowed on June 19 to 'remove' Tehran's nuclear and ballistic missile threat after Iranian air strikes hit a hospital earlier in the day. Israeli military officials said several populated areas inside the country were attacked by Iran on June 19, including the hospital in the southern city of Beersheba. Local media said there was severe damage to one ward of the hospital, with 40 people suffering mainly minor injuries. Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC), according to the Tasnim news agency associated with the IRGC, said it had targeted an Israeli military and intelligence headquarters near the Soroka medical center — the only Level 1 trauma center in southern Israel — in Beersheba. Israel said it bombed nuclear targets in Iran on June 19, including the Natanz and Isfahan sites. It had said the Busher site, the location of the country's only functioning nuclear power plant, was hit, but later retracted the statement. Early on June 20, the Israeli military issued an evacuation warning for people in the industrial area of the Iranian village of Kolesh Taleshan, saying it planned to hit military infrastructure there. Details were not immediately available. Israel launched the current offensive against Iran on June 13 saying it was necessary to halt Tehran's nuclear program, with rights groups saying more than 600 people have been killed, including civilians. Iran responded by launching drones and missiles into Israel, killing some 24 people, according to Israeli officials. Much of Iran's military and scientific leadership has been killed in air strikes. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said on June 19 that there is a 'real risk of escalation' and urged Trump to step back from military action against Iran. Israel and many of its Western allies, including the United States, accuse Iran of seeking to build nuclear weapons. Tehran has vehemently rejected the accusations, saying its atomic program is purely for civilian purposes. The fighting has sparked a massive exodus from Tehran and other cities as thousands jam highways seeking safer surroundings.
Yahoo
a day ago
- Yahoo
‘Daily Show' Staffer on Triumph at Pedro Pascal Look-Alike Contest: 'It's Been Insane' (Exclusive)
On Sunday, George Gountas enjoyed a life of relative obscurity. True, the 42-year-old resident of Brooklyn has enjoyed a taste of the limelight — literally, as he's been the lighting designer for The Daily Show since 2018. And yes, he was used to being told he looked like a certain celebrity whose profile has skyrocketed in recent years. But for the most part, he was just George from Greenpoint, father of two. More from The Hollywood Reporter "Who Gives a F*** What Other People Think": Walton Goggins, Adam Scott and the Drama Actor Roundtable Late-Night TV Hosts on Trump's "Big Stupid Birthday Parade": "Almost Makes Me Feel Bad for Him" How Celine Song's 'Materialists' Approaches New York City Wealth All of that changed yesterday when Gountas, egged on by his wife and Daily Show staffers, entered a Pedro Pascal look-alike contest. Sponsored by Lower East Side's Son Del North Mexican restaurant — who wanted to prove the Materialists star wrong in his assessment on Hot Ones that New York has no good Mexican food — the competition gave the winner burritos for a year and $50 cash, plus unlimited bragging rights. It was instantly obvious to everyone in attendance (and hundreds of onlookers showed up, plus a couple dozen contestants) that Pedro No. 5 was the clear winner. Pascal, 50, has already given his blessing, commenting on a viral Instagram post about Gountas' win with a teary-eyed smiley face emoji and a heart. Gountas granted his first post-triumph media interview to The Hollywood Reporter. *** George, I have to say this is very startling. Your resemblance to Pedro Pascal must have interrupted your life a lot over the past few years. It started back when Pedro was on Game of Thrones. He was Red Viper, a very beloved character. They killed off a lot of those in very startling fashion. My wife was so freaked out when he got killed. She's like, 'I can't watch this. I feel like the guy is crushing your head.' Then my daughter's classmates would tell their parents how I 'look like famous people.' They'd take pictures of their TVs and send them to my wife. You could be his twin brother. I look more like him than I look like my own brother. What's amazing is that you also work in show business, like him. Tell me about your job. I am the lighting designer at The Daily Show, which is a wonderful place to work. We're a very tight-knit group and have a daily text on what's needed for the day. One of the stage managers, Tyler, found the advertisement for the contest and was like, 'Yo, George, go win some free burritos.' I showed it to my wife and she's like, 'Yeah, you're going to this.' My neighbor is a stylist and art director and she was like, 'I've got shoes for you, I've got pants for you.' It was a whole thing. Pedro has done a lot of talk shows, but has he done ? In my tenure, he hasn't been there. I've been there since 2018. So I don't remember him coming by, but hopefully he does now. I feel like that's imminent now. There was a picture on somebody's Instagram with a side-by-side of him and me. Apparently he commented with a couple of tear emojis and a heart. So it was pretty funny. That's going to be a huge summit, just the two of you meeting. Let's talk about the contest. It was at a Mexican restaurant. The whole root of it is that he complained about Mexican food in New York? That's my understanding. I'm assuming he lives in Los Angeles and obviously L.A. is known for its great Mexican food. He wasn't happy [with New York's offerings]. So they said, 'We'll show you. We're going to do this contest.' I already started trying my first burritos. And they're excellent. Tell me about the scene there. Was it mayhem? How many people showed up? It was unbelievable. I live in Greenpoint, which is not too far away. My kids wanted to come, so my wife and kids joined me. And as we're getting closer, there's 1,000 people in the street. Cars are honking, trying to get by. Apparently you're supposed to sign up in advance. I didn't. I just kind of walked up and said, 'Hey, I'm here.' And so you met your other contestants. The other ones did not hold a candle to you. I guess they all realized it the second they saw you. Listen, I sized them all up, I'm not going to lie. No. 18 look good from far. Great head of hair. No. 18 had me beat in that department. The Instagram comments are pretty vicious, saying I should go to Turkey. Don't read the comments. So you were named the winner and what do you get? Burritos for a year, and 50 bucks. That's like going out for ice cream at Greenpoint. Have you heard from any of your bosses at yet? Everyone's super supportive. It's been pretty insane. There's a full page spread in The New York Post and people are just screenshotting everything and sending it to me. Has Jon Stewart said anything? I haven't seen or spoken to him yet. I'm anxious about going to the show and have everybody make fun of me. It's kind of a very cool family environment there. Best of The Hollywood Reporter 'The Studio': 30 Famous Faces Who Play (a Version of) Themselves in the Hollywood-Based Series 22 of the Most Shocking Character Deaths in Television History A 'Star Wars' Timeline: All the Movies and TV Shows in the Franchise
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Yahoo
Trump fails to mark Juneteenth, federal holiday celebrating end of US slavery
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