Another day, another breathless attempt by the mainstream media to portray chaos inside President Donald Trump’s administration. And once again, the narrative collapsed the moment White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt stepped in with a reality check.
The latest offender was Politico, which tried to stir up fresh drama by claiming two key members of Trump’s “energy dominance” team were supposedly “flummoxed” by rising global oil prices following the U.S. strike on Iran. According to the report, Interior Secretary Doug Burgum and Energy Secretary Chris Wright were scrambling behind the scenes, with the implication that the president himself was increasingly frustrated.
The evidence for that dramatic claim? Anonymous sources, vague whispers from unnamed insiders, and the opinions of critics who are not part of the administration.
Politico framed the situation as a major problem for Trump’s energy agenda. Fifteen months after the president promised that his team would usher in a new era of American prosperity and global stability through energy dominance, the outlet suggested the strategy was suddenly under pressure due to shifting global oil markets.
But the narrative quickly unraveled.
Neither Wright nor Burgum has shown any signs of being confused or overwhelmed in their public appearances. Both officials have repeatedly appeared before Congress, spoken to the press, and highlighted what they say are clear successes in expanding domestic energy production and stabilizing markets. In fact, Burgum recently blasted California Governor Gavin Newsom over the state’s soaring gas prices, while industry leaders piled on, pointing to state policies as the real driver behind the problem.
This story from Politico is laughably false.
Both Secretary Wright and Secretary Burgum have been a constant presence at the White House since Operation Epic Fury.I was literally just on Air Force One with President Trump watching Secretary Wright on television, and the… pic.twitter.com/pUeby5Fs1s
— Karoline Leavitt (@PressSec) March 12, 2026
And Wright has been delivering what many consumers want to hear: reassurance that the administration’s energy policies are designed to keep prices manageable while expanding American production.
Enter Karoline Leavitt.
The 28-year-old press secretary wasted no time dismantling Politico’s storyline. Posting on X, Leavitt revealed she had literally just been on Air Force One with the president while Wright was appearing on television.
According to her, Trump’s reaction was the exact opposite of what Politico’s report suggested.
“I was literally just on Air Force One with President Trump watching Secretary Wright on television,” Leavitt wrote. “The President was saying he couldn’t be happier with both Doug and Chris.”
She didn’t stop there.
“There is nobody more qualified to lead in this critical moment, and to implement President Trump’s American energy dominance agenda,” she added before delivering the knockout punch: “Politico continues to prove they are garbage gossip trash fueled by cowardly anonymous sources.”
The exchange highlights a growing shift in the media landscape surrounding Trump’s second administration. For years, legacy outlets operated largely unchallenged when pushing narratives sourced to anonymous insiders. Now, administration officials and conservative media platforms move quickly to confront those stories in real time.
Add in the influence of independent outlets, the rise of platforms like X under Elon Musk, and an aggressive communications team that refuses to let accusations sit unanswered, and the old playbook looks increasingly shaky.
And if the last round was any indication, reporters hoping to spin the next anonymous whisper into a headline may want to be ready for another direct hit from the White House podium. Karoline Leavitt appears more than willing to swing.
