During a recent meeting with reporters, Donald Trump jokingly suggested that White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt was responsible for much of the negative publicity surrounding him.

Trump’s approval rating has been declining, hitting a new low for a second term amid tensions in the Middle East, particularly regarding the U.S.-Israel-led operations in Iran. Two weeks ago, Silver Bulletin reported his approval at -13.9, and it has since dropped to -16.7.

While signing an executive order in the Oval Office, Trump commented that 93% of his 2024 election coverage was negative, jokingly noting, “Some people say 97… maybe Karoline’s doing a poor job, I don’t know,” before turning to Leavitt and quipping, “You’re doing a terrible job.” He immediately followed with a lighthearted remark: “Shall we keep her? I think we’ll keep her.”

This wasn’t the first time Trump has joked about Leavitt’s role; during an October diplomacy meeting, he teased about possibly replacing her but quickly dismissed the idea, citing her presence and rapid speech.

In response to concerns about his approval ratings, White House spokesperson Davis Ingle emphasized that Trump’s focus remains on decisive national security actions, highlighting Operation Epic Fury aimed at limiting Iran’s nuclear capabilities. Ingle stated that the President makes decisions based on the country’s best interest, not on polling numbers.