EXCLUSIVE: Karoline Leavitt appeared to make an emotional admission on social media as she possibly continues to deal with ‘immense mental strain’ from working with Donald Trump
It has likely been a stressful few weeks and months for Karoline Leavitt, and her recent social media uploads may have just confirmed that.
The 28-year-old press secretary for President Donald Trump, who was also mocked on Saturday Night Live this weekend, took to Instagram on Sunday to share a handful of stories with her 2.6 million followers. She began her weekend insight by posting some snaps and videos of her trip to Palm Beach.
Alongside a video of her driving along the coast, she revealed “the ocean is my happy place,” before sharing a snap of her breakfast at the Four Seasons Hotel in Palm Beach, which can set vacationers back up to an eye-watering $2,781 a night.
“Favorite breakfast spot with my hubs,” the mom-of-one penned atop the story that featured a bowl of granola, fruit, bacon and an egg bagel, referring to her spouse, Nicholas Riccio.
Things then appeared to take a more emotional turn for Karoline, as she later posted a picture of a page from the Bible, pointing to the quote, “For when I am weak, then I am strong,” which was also underlined.
Leavitt then posted another quote, which said, “What a privilege it is to have your bed taken up by a small human who thinks it’s the safest place in the world to be,” and penned “crying” over the top of it.
She didnt give much more context to her mysterious posts, but Christine Schneider, Clinical Psychologist at Cambridge Therapy Centre, gave the Mirror US an insight into how the 28-year-old may be feeling.
Christine began, “Working as a Press Secretary means living under constant pressure. Every word, every facial expression, and every pause is dissected by the media and the public,” before adding, “That level of exposure can be incredibly demanding mentally.”
“Someone in Karoline Leavitt’s position likely faces chronic stress, anxiety around public performance, and exhaustion from the nonstop pace of her role,” the expert warned. “There’s often a need to stay composed no matter what’s happening behind the scenes, and that emotional control, while impressive, can come at a cost.”
“It’s what psychologists sometimes refer to as emotional labor: the effort of managing one’s feelings to maintain a professional image. Over time, it can lead to burnout, irritability, and difficulty switching off after work,” she continued.
Christine then noted, “It’s hard to know exactly how Leavitt herself is coping without direct insight, but anyone in a job that involves constant scrutiny and public responsibility is vulnerable to mental strain.
“When people start to seem overly rehearsed, detached, or defensive under pressure, it can sometimes signal that they’re struggling to stay grounded, even though these are natural human responses to sustained stress rather than signs of weakness.”
Naomi Magnus, a Psychologist and founder of North London Therapy, also weighed in on the potential mental state of Karoline.
She began by echoing Christine, saying, “High-powered political roles, like Press Secretary to a former president, come with immense mental strain. Karoline could face chronic stress, anxiety, and relentless pressure to perform flawlessly under public scrutiny. I would not be surprised if the job role resulted in burnout, sleep disturbances, and emotional exhaustion.”
The psychologist concluded by warning, “The signs of strain can be subtle. Public appearances and social media may hint at stress, but many high-profile business people maintain their outward composure, masking internal tension.”