Leavitt, 27, is the youngest press secretary in White House history. She previously worked as a correspondence office intern during President Donald Trump’s first term before later becoming assistant press secretary.

In her first press briefing this week, Leavitt said the media would be hearing from her frequently and described Trump as the most “transparent and accessible president in American history.” Reacting to the briefing, Behar argued Leavitt earned the role solely due to her appearance.

I think that she’s probably been put in there because according to Donald Trump, she’s a 10,” Behar said. “You know that’s what it is.”

Co-host Whoopi Goldberg also suggested Leavitt is in her position due to the efforts of other women in fighting for equality.

“I would like this young lady who, this is her first job, I would like her to do a little homework because she said something yesterday that really p—ed me off,” Goldberg said. “She said ‘there will be no wokeness here.’”

Let me explain something to you,” she added. “Without that wokeness, you might not have that job.”

Leavitt took over the role from Biden press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre, who noted in 2022 she was the first Black, gay and immigrant woman to hold the role. She succeeded Jen Psaki, who reviled characterizations that women would echo one another in White House meetings to make their voices heard.

“I know that was well-intentioned,” she said. “That was not the experience of my colleagues and I found it to be quite diminishing to women in these significant senior roles.”

“You want to be treated as the professional and the person who deserves a seat at the table,” she added.

After Trump lost reelection in 2020, Leavitt transitioned to communications director for Rep. Elise Stefanik, R-N.Y. Leavitt then won a Republican nomination to represent New Hampshire in Congress, but lost the race to Rep. Chris Pappas, D-N.H.

Leavitt served as Trump’s national spokesperson during his third presidential campaign, and she had a baby just three days before an assassination attempt against the then-presidential candidate in Butler, Pennsylvania.

Trump had four press secretaries during his first presidency, including Sean Spicer, now-Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders, Stephanie Grisham and Kayleigh McEnany.