Though press secretary Kayleigh McEnany claimed Trump was "the best President this country will ever have," her past self wouldn't agree.
Over the years, United States President Donald Trump has a startling number of press secretaries working in his White House. Few, however, have been his critics prior to their appointment in his administration. Curiously, current press secretary Kayleigh McEnany is the only one to have made some not-so-favorable remarks about the president. When asked about her controversial comments about him from 2015, she swiftly ignored any accountability - and blamed CNN instead. You know what they say... Like president, like press secretary. McEnany recently replaced former press secretary Stephanie Grisham, who became infamous for not holding a single press briefing during her time at the White House.
Here is Trump @PressSec Kayleigh McEneny criticizing Donald Trump in 2015, calling Trump statements "racist," with no expiration date and "a showman," not "a serious candidate."
— Amee Vanderpool (@girlsreallyrule) May 8, 2020
"I don't like what Donald Trump said...I don't want to claim this guy." pic.twitter.com/dkXN3qE6oH
Just over a month into her time as press secretary, McEnany is yet to impress the journalists present at her daily press briefings. From storming out of the room to blaming the media for the ongoing pandemic, she seems to have stepped into the president's shoes with ease. At her most recent briefing, it became quite evident that she was ready to put CNN on blast - much like the man in charge - rather than taking responsibility for her own statements. When asked about her criticism of Trump in 2015 during an interview with the news channel, she claimed, "Well, I'm actually glad you asked that, because for about the first four weeks of the election, um, I was watching CNN, and I was naively believing some of the headlines that I saw... I very quickly came around to supporting the president... I was on many panels where I proudly supported this president, who I think is one of the best presidents, if not the best president this country will ever have."
Here is @PressSec Kayliegh McEnany on her first day on the job telling reporters: "I will never lie to you. You have my word on that." Oopsie.
— Amee Vanderpool (@girlsreallyrule) May 8, 2020
pic.twitter.com/VQywZGIE9A
If it's as if Trump somehow crawled into her brain and made her say those things, we wouldn't be surprised. McEnany wasn't so supportive of the president five years ago. Not only did she call Trump "racist" and "hateful" for his derogatory comments about Mexicans, but she also stated that she thought his candidacy was a joke. "Donald Trump has shown himself to be a showman," she affirmed. "I don't think he is a serious candidate. I think it is a sideshow. It's not within the mainstream of the candidates." How we wish he weren't in the mainstream now! The press secretary added, "He supports eminent domain. He supported tax increases before. He's donated $300,000 to Democratic candidates. So, the fact that the Republican Party is now having to claim him is both unfortunate, and to me, inauthentic."
White House Press Secretary Kayleigh McEnany criticizes CNN after being asked about her past comments calling Pres. Trump "racist" and "hateful":
— Alex Salvi (@alexsalvinews) May 8, 2020
""I was watching CNN and I was naively believing some of the headlines."pic.twitter.com/0190wOYoer
The only thing inauthentic now is McEnany's feelings towards President Trump. Many have taken to social media to call her a grifter, someone who simply cares about her own benefit. In the past, White House press secretaries have played an important role in ensuring the press has access to accurate, honest, and authentic information. Ever since Trump entered the White House, his administration's press briefings have been nothing short of ridiculous. Littered with fake news and rhetoric, the Trump press briefing has become an extension of his role as the president. McEnany is simply the latest act in his circus.