White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt is pushing back against claims that Attorney General Pam Bondi once said she had a “client list” connected to Jeffrey Epstein — but it’s a detail unrelated to her words that has social media buzzing.
During a recent exchange with Fox News’ Peter Doocy, some online observers noticed Leavitt wasn’t wearing her usual cross necklace, sparking speculation that she had removed it in anticipation of lying.
“Interesting that Karoline Leavitt took off her cross today while talking about the Epstein files,” one X user posted.
Other users chimed in, suggesting her choice to forgo the necklace meant she “felt guilt and shame,” while one wrote, “Easier to lie that way.”
What did Leavitt actually say?
During the press briefing, Doocy asked:
“What happened to the Epstein client list that the attorney general said she had on her desk?”
Leavitt pushed back, saying Doocy should “go back and hear exactly what Bondi said.”
Doocy was ready, quoting Fox anchor John Roberts’ previous interview with Bondi:
“‘DOJ may be releasing the list of Jeffrey Epstein’s clients. Will that really happen?’ And she said, ‘It’s sitting on my desk right now to review.’”
Leavitt responded by clarifying that Bondi was referring to “the entirety of all the paperwork” related to Epstein’s crimes — not specifically a list of clients.
“That’s what the attorney general was referring to,” Leavitt said. “And I’ll let her speak for that.”
She then pivoted away from Epstein, emphasizing the administration’s broader focus on crime and reiterating that “bad people [are] being put behind bars.” She referred further questions to the Justice Department.
Was the missing necklace deliberate?
It’s true that Leavitt wasn’t wearing her cross during the exchange — but this wasn’t the first time she’s gone without it. In fact, she had appeared without the necklace earlier in June, shortly after being mocked by Daily Show host Jon Stewart for her visible religious symbol.
“The more she lies, the bigger her cross gets,” Stewart joked during a segment. “Is that possible? It’s like some sort of weird Pinocchio cross.”
He continued, suggesting Leavitt may be the only one in the Trump administration to come out “unscathed,” adding,
“I don’t think she has any principles left to die.”
Despite the jabs, Leavitt has spoken candidly about her faith. In an earlier interview with the Christian Broadcasting Network, she said:
“My faith is incredibly important to me — I would argue, now more than ever — being in a role that is very demanding and, at times, controversial. There’s a lot of public pressure and discussion online about who you are and your family.”
She added,
“It could be difficult for someone who doesn’t have faith, but with faith, all things are possible.”
Whether the cross was removed deliberately or simply part of a wardrobe decision, it hasn’t stopped speculation online — a reflection of just how politically charged even the smallest details can become in today’s White House.
