The past few weeks and months have likely been incredibly stressful for Karoline Leavitt, and her latest social media posts may have just revealed exactly that.
The 28 year old press secretary for President Donald Trump, who also faced ridicule on Saturday Night Live this weekend, turned to Instagram on Sunday to share several stories with her 2.6 million followers. She kicked off her weekend glimpse by posting photos and videos from her Palm Beach getaway.
Next to a video of herself cruising along the coastline, she disclosed “the ocean is my happy place,” before sharing a photo of her meal at the Four Seasons Hotel in Palm Beach, where guests can pay up to a staggering $2,781 per night. “Favorite breakfast spot with my hubs,” the mother-of-one wrote above the story featuring a bowl of granola, fruit, bacon and an egg bagel, referencing her husband, Nicholas Riccio.
The tone then seemed to shift to something more emotional for Karoline, as she subsequently shared an image of a Bible page, highlighting the verse, “For when I am weak, then I am strong,” which was also underlined, reports the Mirror US.
Leavitt then shared another quote, which read, “What a privilege it is to have your bed taken up by a small human who thinks it’s the safest place in the world to be,” and wrote “crying” above it.
She provided little additional context for her cryptic posts, but Christine Schneider, Clinical Psychologist at Cambridge Therapy Centre, offered the Mirror US insight into how the 28 year old might be feeling. Christine started off by saying, “Working as a Press Secretary means living under constant pressure. Every word, every facial expression, and every pause is dissected by the media and the public,” she then added, “That level of exposure can be incredibly demanding mentally.
“Someone in Karoline Leavitt’s position likely faces chronic stress, anxiety around public performance, and exhaustion from the nonstop pace of her role,” the expert cautioned. “There’s often a need to stay composed no matter what’s happening behind the scenes, and that emotional control, while impressive, can come at a cost.
“It’s what psychologists sometimes refer to as emotional labor: the effort of managing one’s feelings to maintain a professional image. Over time, it can lead to burnout, irritability, and difficulty switching off after work,” she elaborated.
Christine then pointed out, “It’s hard to know exactly how Leavitt herself is coping without direct insight, but anyone in a job that involves constant scrutiny and public responsibility is vulnerable to mental strain. “When people start to seem overly rehearsed, detached, or defensive under pressure, it can sometimes signal that they’re struggling to stay grounded, even though these are natural human responses to sustained stress rather than signs of weakness.”
Naomi Magnus, a Psychologist and founder of North London Therapy, also offered her perspective on the potential mental state of Karoline.
She started by mirroring Christine’s sentiments, stating, “High-powered political roles, like Press Secretary to a former president, come with immense mental strain. Karoline could face chronic stress, anxiety, and relentless pressure to perform flawlessly under public scrutiny. I would not be surprised if the job role resulted in burnout, sleep disturbances, and emotional exhaustion.”
The psychologist wrapped up her thoughts with a cautionary note, “The signs of strain can be subtle. Public appearances and social media may hint at stress, but many high-profile business people maintain their outward composure, masking internal tension.”
