Karoline Leavitt chose baby blue for her latest press briefing, but there was nothing soft, sweet, or serene about her bald-faced lie—that Donald Trump left a life of luxury to be a president!

For her final White House press briefing of the week on Friday (U.S. time), Karoline Leavitt wore a baby blue pantsuit. It looked so generic and so devoid of distinguishable details that it was hard to make out the brand of the garment. The suit looked identical to the one that she donned last March, when she was photographed holding her son in the White House. In all likelihood, she chose something that, again, was not produced in the U.S.—a persistent defiance to her boss’s call to choose Made in America. Under the jacket, she wore a nude inner, and above the low neckline, hung her favourite cross pendant. As we have noted before, the symbol of religious fervour is no indication that the wearer is inclined to clutch the truth.

Ms Leavitt’s clothing or accessory choice is ultimately superficial. It doesn’t reflect the integrity or accuracy of her words; it is a deliberate act of presentation and doesn’t guarantee the authenticity of her statements. This time, Ms Leavitt was desperate to paint the president as a person who has forsaken all the trappings of a fine life to Make America Great Again. She said that Donald Trump “left a life of luxury… not just once, but twice”—exact words—for public service when she was asked if there were potential conflicts of interest related to Mr Trump’s business dealings or financial benefits from his political position. She also claimed that Mr Trump “has lost money” since becoming president without substantiating that wild assertion.

Ms Leavitt’s clothing choice is ultimately superficial. It doesn’t reflect the integrity or accuracy of her words

It is not clear if Ms Leavitt was suggesting that the president accepted a downgrade when he moved to the White House and, for the weekends, Mar-a-Lago, reputed to be “a very luxurious resort”. To bolster her claim, Mr Trump’s supporters insist that his lifestyle before and during his presidency can be interpreted in different ways. But he is not getting less than before. The presidency is no indication that he has to suffer material deprivation or what he needs to live more than comfortably. Mr Trump is not sleeping on an uncomfortable bed, he is not eating poorly or not getting less Big Macs, nor is he dressed in clothes that are more inferior than before—he isn’t asked to drop his preference for Brioni suits.

Defenders of Ms Leavitt’s claim say that in reality, Mr Trump traded one form of luxury for another—personal freedom for the power and prestige of the presidency. But he knew what he signed up for. And, that the sacrifice of privacy meant a loss of luxury does not hold water either. Trump makes everything he does a public show. Even his cabinet meetings are for the press to view and to film, and then to broadcast. He has consistently sought and thrived on intense public attention throughout his career. Before he ran for the presidency, his business ventures and failures, and alleged and confirmed infidelities were all characterized by a high degree of public visibility. So were his political campaigns. And now his presidency. Karoline Leavitt, don’t lie.

Screen shot: Fox 5 New York