Karoline Leavitt uploads a cheerful Instagram snap, showing off her armful of popular Korean beauty products while tagging along with Trump in Korea. Her post goes viral, with fans calling her genuinely relatable. Comments gush: Thank you to this American girl for the free K-Beauty ad! Word is, sales of these brands tripled overnight.
Who’s Leavitt, anyway? She’s the White House Press Secretary, just 28 years old. As Trump puts it, “She's a star, and she's great. I don't think anybody has ever had a better press secretary than Karoline. She's been amazing.” Leavitt also made headlines for becoming the first U.S. government spokesperson to hit reporters with a cheeky “Your mom!” when asked a serious question.
Leavitt’s Korean honeymoon lasted all of three days. Suddenly, she’s under fire—not for another “mom” diss, but because her K-Beauty shopping spree was, apparently, too much. Angry voices thundered: Millions of Americans are still scrambling for their next meal, and you’re a White House bigshot flaunting your haul? Disgusting! Remember, Leavitt’s supposed to be a MAGA missionary—so the critics say, Hey, wasn’t it all about buying American? Why hype Korean brands? Of course, freedom-loving types jumped to her defense: She’s spending her own cash — what’s the problem? Still, it’s hard for some to swallow her snapping up so many high-value goodies abroad.
When “Shopping” Sends Political Shockwaves
Other voices chime in with more nuance: “It’s all Trump’s fault—his short-sighted trade war left no winners. U.S. prices keep climbing, so Leavitt, a White House official, jets off to Korea and snags budget K-Beauty products, while ordinary Americans are stuck with sky-high domestic prices. It’s miserable! Pay attention to how Americans actually feel.”
Former President Obama recently sounded alarm bells on social media: Over 47 million Americans are struggling with food insecurity, including a staggering 20% of children. His worry? The U.S. cost of living is spiraling, more families than ever are relying on relief, yet both major parties are locked in endless legal and political battles over aid. Obama warns: “Millions of kids, seniors, and low-income Americans will go hungry ahead of the holidays.”
Poverty Lines and Power Play
Poverty. It’s the first thing leaders should fix.
Let’s rewind a bit. Back at the start of Lunar New Year in 2021, on the eve of the Lantern Festival, China held a grand celebration. President Xi Jinping declared total victory in the nation’s fight against poverty—a feat he called a “miracle on earth.” When the BBC reported this, their tone was bittersweet. The stats quoted from Chinese officials were staggering: “All 98.99 million rural poor lifted out of poverty, all 832 impoverished counties delisted, all 128,000 poor villages off the map, and regional poverty solved.” The BBC then rolled out every metric and definition under the sun to analyze “poverty.”
But really, why try to read the Western mind? Forget it—let’s shift focus to Europe and America instead.
According to the BBC: “The UK will continue to see a big rise in the number of people living in poverty, a report by the Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) has warned. The study said 2.2 million children and two million working age adults were living in absolute poverty in 2009–10. In percentage terms, 17% of UK children were living in absolute poverty in 2009–10. By 2012–13, the IFS predicts this will rise to 21.8%.” The report further explains: It’s all in how you define poverty.
So, what about the United States? There, poverty is measured similarly. American scholars have written that if judged by the UN’s absolute poverty line standard, most Euro-American countries would not have a single poor person. Yet in reality, even America—the world's largest economy—officially recognizes about 17% of its population as poor.
So, why juggle numbers and tweak definitions just to spin a prettier picture for yourself? Start with public sentiment instead. “Leavitt’s K-Beauty episode” is enough to capture America today. Think back—would anyone have cared about White House officials bargain hunting in Korea during the 1990s dot-com heyday?
America’s poverty may need “scientific” measurement, but one fact is obvious: Americans feel poor enough to resent it — wow!
Deep Blue
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When reporters asked about French President Macron refusing to join the Gaza Peace Commission, Trump didn't miss a beat: "Did he say that? Well, nobody wants him because he will be out of office very soon." He added: "I'll put a 200% tariff on his wines and champagnes, and he'll join, but he doesn't have to join." Translation: If even bros get no face, you’re really nobody. Classic Trump.
France represents Europe's core values and has consistently railed against China's so-called "overcapacity." Last year, when Sino-European trade tensions peaked, France's Les Échos quoted the American think tank Rhodium Group: "China’s overcapacity may have an impact on Western economies. In fact, the real losers are countries in the Global South." The analysis attacked both sides—so why did Europe find it music to their ears? Because they never forgot 2013, when the EU sanctioned Chinese solar panels under the banner of anti-dumping. Now those same solar panels, wind turbines, and domestically produced EVs have roared back with a vengeance, hammering European manufacturing.
Trump's "Gaza Peace Commission" Power Play
So what's this Peace Commission all about? The United States has sent invitations to leaders of over 60 countries and international organizations. Yesterday it was confirmed that Putin made the guest list. According to multiple foreign media reports, the White House is demanding that countries pony up over $1 billion in exchange for permanent seats on the “Gaza Peace Commission." Trump, as US President, becomes the Commission's inaugural chairman with personal authority to decide who gets invited. Pay attention—all decisions will be made by majority vote, but must ultimately be approved by the chairman. What does that mean? Dictatorship, plain and simple.
Moreover, the White House will soon announce the membership list. The Commission will be composed of US Secretary of State Rubio, Special Envoy Witkoff, Trump's son-in-law, and others—a cozy family affair with global ambitions.
Don't waste time asking whether the Commission is reasonable, appropriate, or constitutional under US law—that's beside the point. At least the United Nations hasn't issued any statement opposing it so far. You can only ask: "Would Putin really play along with this?" Or: "Has Beijing received an invitation?" Global Times reported: "At the moment, Russia is looking at all the details of this proposal, and hopes to discuss all of the nuances with the Americans."
Some observers believe that "turning the so-called Peace Commission into an institution parallel to the United Nations will undermine the UN's authority and working mechanisms."
The American Genius Complex
Taiwan foreign affairs expert and commentator Jieh Wen-chieh nailed it: if Trump dares to create this Commission, he could later lead America to the moon or Mars—nothing would be surprising! This is 100% what an American genius should do.
Jieh Wen-chieh identifies the key point: Europe is a resource-poor region. When European immigrants discovered that America was a land without boundaries, they found a whole new world. American culture was forged this way: as long as you have "guts," as long as you have "dreams" and dare to do what no one before has done, you are an American hero—the very embodiment of "the American way".
Trump’s hammer falls wherever he pleases: plots to swallow Greenland, and threatens military action against Iran. In the minds of Americans, this is no different from "Apple guru" Steve Jobs launching the iPhone—it's all "just do it." Sum it up in one sentence: the America led by Trump truly embodies a phenomenon of "power overcapacity." Don’t you agree?
Trump's Next Move: Weaponizing Peace
Whether you agree or not, Trump has new initiatives—he sent a letter to the Norwegian Prime Minister, stating that given Norway's decision not to award him the Nobel Peace Prize to recognize his prevention of "eight wars PLUS," therefore, "I no longer feel an obligation to think purely of Peace..., but can now think about what is good and proper' for the US." At this rate, America’s about to claim the whole universe as its own!
Looking back, Trump's bubble is closely tied to those allies who previously pandered to America by slapping the "overcapacity" label on China—they are the kingmakers. They dismantled Huawei's 5G communications, banned lithography machine exports to China, then called Trump "Daddy," thinking the world would become more beautiful. Now they're about to learn it the hard way.
P.S.: Europe will face 100% tariffs from America. Here’s to a roaring Year of the Horse—may you charge ahead and lead the pack!
