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However, the backlash was met with an equally fervent wave of support. Defenders of the press secretary dismissed the criticism as a classic example of “gotcha” politics, arguing that a professional woman’s choice of attire or accessories has no bearing on her ability to represent the administration’s foreign policy interests. Supporters flooded her comments section with praise for her poise, her professionalism, and her refusal to be intimidated by what they characterized as petty observations. To many in her camp, the outrage over a handbag was a desperate attempt to distract from the substance of her defense of American sovereignty. They saw the Neverfull tote not as a political statement, but as a practical, high-quality accessory suitable for a woman managing the grueling schedule of a White House official.
This incident highlights a broader phenomenon in 21st-century politics: the commodification of the personal. Every item an official wears, consumes, or displays is now subject to “brand alignment” checks by an audience that is perpetually online. For Leavitt, the youngest person to ever inhabit her role, this scrutiny is amplified. She represents a generation that grew up with social media, where the boundary between the private individual and the public servant is almost non-existent. In this environment, a designer bag is never just a bag; it is a potential focal point for a debate on trade, patriotism, and the perceived elitism of the political class.
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