NYT’s Maggie Haberman spars with Karoline Leavitt in White House briefing debut

New York Times White House correspondent Maggie Haberman got an earful when she confronted White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt.

Haberman who’s no stranger to the White House briefing room may have been taken a little aback when she questioned Leavitt’s claims of “transparency” regarding DOGE head Elon Musk and his alleged conflicts of interests.

“You talked about the transparency with DOGE and Elon Musk’s press availability yesterday,” Haberman began. “There is a conflict of interest law in place that says that people who have personal interests can’t interact with government entities that can touch on those.”

Haberman then questioned Leavitt about a “waiver” signed by Trump and if it exists, would be available to the public in the name of “transparency.”

Then, Leavitt let Haberman have it.

HABERMAN: Has President Trump signed a conflict of interest waiver for Elon Musk?

LEAVITT: I have not seen the law you are referring to. Elon said everything he’s doing is very public and if you all perceive a conflict of interest, you are welcome to bring that up. pic.twitter.com/6dB5Q4NZYg

— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) February 12, 2025

Leavitt explained that Musk filling the proper financial disclosures and “complying with all applicable laws.”

“As you also heard, Elon addressed this directly yesterday and the alleged conflict of interest,” Leavitt continued. “And he said everything he’s doing is very public. And if you all perceive a conflict of interest, you’re welcome to bring that up…”

“… We’re very confident with the ethics and the guardrails that have been put in place here.”

And with that there wasn’t much Haberman could come back with, but X users had plenty to say, some even brought receipts:

“elons not been transparent”

pic.twitter.com/n9z5QrmRBt

— Matt (@amattattack) February 12, 2025

The Democrats are losing the PR war because they brought a Ph.D. thesis to a gunfight.

— Anthony M. Hopper (@elander777) February 12, 2025

Maggie should be the next one held accountable for all her Russian lies

— Brandon Johnson (@Patriot_45_) February 12, 2025

As for Musk, he’s expecting the criticism. “I fully expect to be scrutinized and get a daily proctologist exam. I will be scrutinized nonstop,” Musk said.

Elon: “I fully expect to be scrutinized and get a daily proctologist exam. I will be scrutinized nonstop.” pic.twitter.com/70JN0qwFmI

— Gunther Eagleman™ (@GuntherEagleman) February 11, 2025

website built so that Americans can see where their hard-earned tax dollars were/are being spent.

JUST IN: Musk and DOGE Launch Website to Ensure Maximum Transparency for American Taxpayers

In a move to promote government transparency, Elon Musk and the DOGE team launched a new website https://t.co/5vcxnR9Rus dedicated to making government audit information accessible.

The… pic.twitter.com/nFH3n1jm1C

— MAGA Resource (@MAGAResource) February 14, 2025

How’s that for transparency?

DONATE TO BIZPAC REVIEW

Please help us! If you are fed up with letting radical big tech execs, phony fact-checkers, tyrannical liberals and a lying mainstream media have unprecedented power over your news please consider making a donation to BPR to help us fight them. Now is the time. Truth has never been more critical!