White House Press Sec Slams Media Coverage Against Trump On Russia-UkraineTalks

Last Updated:August 20, 2025, 00:54 IST

Leavitt accused several left-leaning media outlets of deliberately downplaying or misrepresenting the administration’s efforts.

The press secretary also clarified the purpose of the Alaska meeting (X/Rapid Response)

The White House held a media briefing on Tuesday, during which Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt addressed developments in the ongoing Russia-Ukraine peace talks. She also used the opportunity to defend US President Donald Trump, who has taken center stage in efforts to mediate an end to the conflict between the two nations.

Leavitt opened her remarks by commending the president’s recent diplomatic engagements. “What we’ve witnessed President Trump accomplish over the last few days is nothing short of remarkable," she stated. She went on to criticise what she described as “negative and downright false coverage of President Trump and his foreign policy accomplishments," referring specifically to recent media reporting on the president’s involvement in the peace process.

Leavitt accused several left-leaning media outlets of deliberately downplaying or misrepresenting the administration’s efforts. She said such outlets have been “rooting against President Trump" and portraying his outreach to Russian President Vladimir Putin in a negative light. One of the specific criticisms addressed involved Trump’s decision to formally welcome Putin during a recent diplomatic engagement. Leavitt defended the gesture, saying it followed standard diplomatic protocol, and added that the president would have done the same for any world leader.

The press secretary also clarified the purpose of the Alaska meeting between Trump and Putin, which some reports claimed produced no substantial outcomes. Leavitt stated that the meeting had been framed in advance as a “listening exercise" for President Trump, with no expectations of immediate agreements or deliverables.

During the briefing, Leavitt also addressed questions regarding the potential deployment of US troops to Ukraine. She reiterated the administration’s position by stating, “The President has definitively stated US boots will NOT be on the ground in Ukraine, but we can certainly help in the coordination and perhaps provide other means of security guarantees to our European allies."

Following the media session, Vice President JD Vance expressed support for Leavitt on social media, writing, “Karoline Leavitt lighting the American media up for lying about our negotiations with Russia and Ukraine."

Meanwhile, President Trump has confirmed that preparations are underway for a potential trilateral summit involving both Russian President Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Although no agreement has been finalised, the administration continues its efforts to bring both parties to the table for direct talks aimed at ending the conflict.

Click here to add News18 as your preferred news source on Google. Get breaking news, in-depth analysis, and expert perspectives on everything from geopolitics to diplomacy and global trends. Stay informed with the latest world news only on News18. Download the News18 App to stay updated!

Location :

Washington D.C., United States of America (USA)

First Published:

August 20, 2025, 00:54 IST

News world White House Press Sec Slams Media Coverage Against Trump On Russia-UkraineTalks

Read More