‘Out Of Context’: Mainstream Reporter Smacks Down Colleagues’ Attack On Karoline Leavitt

A White House press briefing turned into a social media firestorm this week after Democrats seized on a quote from Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, claiming she said President Trump’s “main priority” was building a ballroom. But now, a mainstream reporter who was in the room is calling foul—accusing her own colleagues of twisting Leavitt’s words beyond recognition.

It started when the Democratic Party’s official X account posted a photo of Leavitt with the caption: “The ballroom is the president’s main priority.” The post quickly went viral, with critics blasting the Trump administration for supposedly focusing on luxury construction while “ignoring the American people.”

But according to Kellie Meyer, a White House correspondent who was sitting in the briefing room, the viral quote was completely taken out of context.

“You may be seeing this circulating on social media—especially on Democratic X accounts—seizing on this quote,” Meyer wrote on X. “The quote is being taken out of context. I was sitting next to the reporter that asked the question.”

She then posted the full exchange that set the internet ablaze. The reporter’s question wasn’t about the President’s overall priorities for the nation. It was about White House renovation projects.

Question: “In addition to the ballroom and the Rose Garden patio, is the President looking at any other renovations or significant kind of projects here at the White House?”

Leavitt: “Not to my knowledge, no. But he’s a builder at heart, clearly, and so his heart and his mind is always churning about how to improve things here on the White House grounds. But at this moment in time, of course, the ballroom is really the President’s main priority.”

You may be seeing this circulating on social media – especially on Democratic X accounts- seizing on this quote from White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt in the briefing yesterday where she said, “at this moment in time, the ballroom is really the president’s main… https://t.co/LWiu0777e1

— Kellie Meyer (@KellieMeyerNews) October 24, 2025

In other words, Leavitt was referring to construction priorities at the White House—not the President’s governing agenda. Meyer emphasized that context, writing, “She said no, the ballroom is his priority,” Meyer clarified. “Now, politicians do this to each other for quick clicks, but context matters.”

The statement came amid ongoing coverage of the White House Ballroom Project, a major private renovation effort initiated by President Trump earlier this year. Announced in July, the plan calls for a new 90,000-square-foot “State Ballroom” to be built on the site of the current East Wing. The expansion aims to allow the White House to host much larger official events—up to 900 guests, compared to the roughly 650-person limit of the current East Room setup.

According to the administration, the project will be fully funded through private donations, with no taxpayer dollars used. Wealthy donors and several major corporations—including Google, Amazon, and Apple—have reportedly pledged funding. The lead architect, McCrery Architects, and construction firm Clark Construction were named earlier this year, and demolition of the East Wing began in October. The price tag has already ballooned from $200 million to roughly $300 million as crews begin excavation.

Not everyone is thrilled. Preservationists and historians warn that the demolition of the East Wing and the removal of nearby historic magnolia trees dating to the 1940s could damage the White House’s heritage. The National Capital Planning Commission is reviewing portions of the project for compliance with preservation standards.

Meanwhile, opponents like Chelsea Clinton have accused Trump of “destroying history,” calling the project “a disregard for the people’s house.”

Still, Meyer’s pushback highlights the issue—how selective framing and viral outrage can distort reality. By isolating Leavitt’s quote about the “ballroom being the main priority,” critics turned a straightforward facilities update into a political talking point.

As construction crews continue razing the East Wing, the ballroom project remains one of the most ambitious White House renovations in modern history—and, apparently, one of the most misunderstood.

Download the FREE Trending Politics App to get the latest news FIRST >>