Even a former Obama official is tipping his hat to a Trump administration star.

Ben Rhodes, who served as deputy national security adviser under President Obama, recently lauded current White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt as more effective than her predecessor Karine Jean-Pierre, and even outshining Trump-era press secretaries like Sean Spicer and Kayleigh McEnany.

Rhodes dropped this unexpected praise during a recent episode of “Pod Save the World,” where he didn’t hold back on his assessment of Leavitt’s performance.

Surprising praise from Obama alum

“It’s funny with [Leavitt], it’s like, she’s not that good. She’s better than like, Sean Spicer and then that other woman who’s on Fox now, Kayleigh McEnany. And actually, honestly, like probably better than like, Karine Jean-Pierre,” Rhodes said.

Now, let’s unpack that: a key figure from the Obama years admitting a Trump pick might have the edge over not just past Republican voices but also a Democratic appointee? That’s the kind of plot twist conservatives can savor, though Rhodes’ faint praise suggests Leavitt’s role is more about showmanship for the boss than policy depth.

He went further, describing Leavitt’s job as essentially performing for President Trump and taking jabs at his critics, which, let’s be honest, is a fair jab at the theatrical nature of modern press briefings.

Leavitt’s recent media clash highlighted

Rhodes and his co-host Tommy Viator also zeroed in on a recent exchange where Leavitt defended Trump’s record on affordability during a bilateral meeting with Hungarian President Viktor Orban.

In that moment, Leavitt pushed back hard against a reporter’s question, insisting Trump is delivering on making life more affordable while accusing the media of ignoring the story.

It’s a classic move—deflect and counterpunch—and while some might call it dodging the question, others see it as a refreshing refusal to let the press set the narrative.

Jean-Pierre’s tenure under scrutiny

Turning to Karine Jean-Pierre, the former press secretary has faced criticism for her time at the podium, with this story pointing to missteps on issues like President Biden’s mental sharpness and Hunter Biden’s legal troubles.

After the June 27, 2024, presidential debate, Jean-Pierre dismissed concerns about Biden’s performance as just a “bad night,” a line that didn’t age well as questions persisted.

Then there was the July 2024 incident where she told reporters a meeting between Biden’s doctor and a neurological specialist wasn’t about the president’s care—only for a journalist to later confirm it was indeed tied to a neurological exam.

Identity and legacy in focus

Jean-Pierre, who made history as the first Black and lesbian press secretary, has since defended her focus on identity, pushing back against critics who questioned her emphasis on personal milestones.

“[I]t pisses me off that people who have not walked in my shoes, who have no idea who really I am as a person, get to tell me how I get to identify myself or not … you can’t tell me how I get to call myself. Like, screw you … that’s not okay,” she said on a November 4, 2024, episode of “Higher Learning.”

While her frustration is understandable, the conservative view might argue that a press secretary’s job is to communicate policy, not personal narrative—though her trailblazing role undeniably carries symbolic weight.