It’s not every day that you see a member of the White House staff appear on an influencer’s social media account. But when fitness influencer Kate Mackz features press secretary Karoline Leavitt on her TikTok account to tour the White House and learn about Levitt’s journey to her position with Donald Trump, users were a bit shook. It was a pairing that no one had expected, and it led to some serious backlash afterward.
Some of the comments on Mackz’s TikTok post showed how most people aren’t wild about her collaboration with Trump’s press secretary. Others still support the fitness influencer, however, who often goes running with celebrities or high-profile executives in her videos. Her video with Leavitt follows the same pattern, but those who commented on the video were quick to share their disappointment with Mackz.
@katemackz From being at the White House last year speaking on a mental health panel and meeting President Biden, to being back again this year — thank you for having us. Truly surreal to walk through a place with so much history and meaning. 🩵
♬ original sound – KATE MACKZ
People shared their ‘disappointment’ about Kate Mackz’s collaboration with Karoline Leavitt.
In Mackz’s video with Leavitt, the influencer gets a tour of the White House. Leavitt explains where the press posts up outside, where her office is, and how she prepares for a press conference. It’s with a prayer, in case you had any doubts.
As Leavitt and Mackz walk along what’s called Pebble Beach, a long paved path on the White House grounds, Mackz comments that she “can’t believe” Leavitt gets to work here. Leavitt admits that it’s a “dream come true.” She began her career with Trump as assistant press secretary during his first term. Now, she is the press secretary in charge of relaying his answers to the media’s most important questions.
Leavitt shares her favorite room in the White House, which is the James S. Brady Briefing Room. She admits, “We need to make it bigger so we can allow more voices in.”
Unfortunately, that comment from Leavitt didn’t sit well with some people who watched Mackz’s video, with one commenting, “‘allowing more voices in’ didn’t she literally want to ban opposing sides in that room????!”
Another commenter weighed in, writing, “Allow more voices in has me rolling on the ground, howling.”
Others noted that they are “disappointed but not surprised” with Mackz’s video featuring Leavitt.
“Kate. Disappointed you chose her,” someone commented on the video. “Wish you would choose people who represent democracy more. Do better.”
It’s clear that most of Mackz’s followers were shocked by her choice for this particular video. It’s not uncommon for her to feature a celebrity of some caliber in a similar style video or one where she goes running with them, as she is a fitness influencer after all. But some believe Leavitt’s involvement in this video means that the influencer’s political and social views may be different than what they originally thought.
“Can’t wait to see you run with Diddy next!!!” someone commented in reference to Mackz’s next TikTok video.
Similarly, someone else wrote, “Can’t wait for the Putin video next!”
Mackz also gained some new followers after her Leavitt video.
Despite some of Mackz’s fans and followers commenting about their disappointment and disgust with her video that featured the White House press secretary, in a video that followed, others used the opportunity to share their support in that comment section.
“Comment section gotta chill,” one person commented in Mackz’s defense. “She interviewed the press secretary, who is only responsible for relaying the presidents opinions.”
Another wrote, “Left is louder but they aren’t the voice of the majority. Interview who you please, free country.” This was an interference to the more liberal-leaning comments on her previous video, where many shared negative comments about Mackz’s choice of guest.
If her goal was to help bring people together or to better understand another side of the political coin, in featuring Leavitt, it’s clear that Mackz did not succeed.
