Karoline Leavitt Accused by Critics of 'Gaslighting' Americans After She Insists Donald Trump Made the U.S. 'Safer' and 'More Affordable'

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt sparked significant online backlash after claiming during an interview that the country is "more affordable" and "safer" under President Donald Trump.

Critics and social media users quickly accused the administration of "gaslighting" the public, arguing that everyday costs like gas and groceries remain stubbornly high.

They widely mocked her words as a work of "nonfiction" and an attempt to treat the public like "idiots," labeling the administration as deeply dishonest for trying to manufacture an economic success story and a sense of safety destroyed by the Iran war that voters simply are not experiencing.

Leavitt appeared on Fox News’ Hannity, where titular host Sean Hannity was talking about the impending midterm elections, encouraging his viewers to vote because “your vote will be the only thing to stop this looming threat of communism and socialism in our country.”

When Hannity mentioned Maine Democratic candidate Troy Jackson, who “is accused of throwing a water bottle at a woman and having a horrible temper,” he asked Leavitt, “Is this going to work for” the Democrats?

Hannity notably ignored the most recent abuse allegations against Republican Ohio Senate candidate Max Miller, and the adjudicated rape charge against Trump, among other things.

Leavitt took it as a cue to go all in on the attack while making sure to hype up her boss.

“These are radical extreme liberals, socialists, communists, whatever you want to call them, Sean,” she said, also ignoring those in her own party who have much more extreme charges against them than throwing plastic water bottles.

“These are radical Democrats who support terrible policies across the board. Again, taking away your private property, abolishing the police, banning prisons, and allowing complete lawlessness and chaos across our country,” she baselessly said.

“We had four years of that under Joe Biden. Thanks to President Trump, Republicans, and common-sense policies across the board, our country is safer and more affordable. We cannot allow these radical, extreme, far-left liberals to take power. We have steady progress under President Trump right now. If these radical extreme liberals are given a chance at power here in Washington, D.C., they will try to obstruct this president and turn our country into a communist h--- hole with every extreme liberal policy that they’ve tried to implement,” she said.

Critics expressed concern that aggressive federal interventions in major cities, mass deportation operations, the flailing war in Iran and highly polarized political rhetoric exacerbate social divisions and civil unrest, creating an environment that feels less secure for vulnerable communities.

They also noted that Leavitt's boast of affordability was "scarcely believable" while tens of millions of Americans continue to face severe financial hardships and an ongoing cost-of-living crisis.

Nearly 95 percent of Americans say the United States is in a prolonged affordability crisis during Trump’s second term.

While he campaigned heavily on lowering the cost of living, consumer pocketbooks remain severely strained by a combination of domestic policy shifts, housing shortfalls and global geopolitical shocks.