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Fact check: What were the exact words Leavitt used about Crockett that led to the defamation lawsuit?

Checked on October 26, 2025

Executive Summary

There is no verified record that Karoline Leavitt’s words about Representative Jasmine Crockett triggered a defamation lawsuit by Crockett; reporting shows either different lawsuits, fictional items, or a separate exchange in which Leavitt criticized Crockett’s rhetoric. The clearest contemporaneous attribution of Leavitt’s remark quotes her saying it is “incredibly derogatory to accuse nearly 80 million Americans of mental illness” and urging Crockett to see Trump supporters in person, but that incident is not tied to a documented Crockett lawsuit in credible sources [1] [2] [3].

1. The question being asked—and why it matters for records and lawsuits

The user asked for the exact words Leavitt used about Crockett that purportedly led to a defamation suit; this requires locating a contemporaneous transcript or filing that ties specific language to a legal claim. Court filings and credible news reports are the primary documents that establish whether words meet the legal threshold for defamation; without a complaint or media quoting the precise utterance, claims about “exact words” remain unverified. Available material shows multiple stories referencing legal action involving Leavitt, but none clearly documents a Crockett lawsuit predicated on a verbatim Leavitt statement [4] [3].

2. The clearest contemporaneous quote attributed to Leavitt

One published report attributes to Leavitt a direct response after Crockett described Trump supporters as “sick” or mentally ill; Leavitt is quoted calling it “incredibly derogatory to accuse nearly 80 million Americans of mental illness” and suggesting Crockett attend a rally to see supporters firsthand. That quote appears in reporting dated June 19, 2025 and frames Leavitt’s remarks as a political retort rather than a legal pleading. The quote is the most precise line attributed to Leavitt in the dataset, but it is not accompanied by a Crockett defamation complaint in the records provided [1].

3. Conflicting reports and fictionalized items that muddy the record

A cluster of items flagged in the provided analyses are labeled fictional or entertainment pieces explicitly; one outlet noted an alleged Crockett $80M lawsuit story was “entirely fictional and crafted for entertainment,” and other links are unrelated court dockets or satire. These fictionalized narratives have circulated alongside credible reporting, which increases confusion about whether a real Crockett lawsuit exists and what specific words would be at issue. The presence of entertainment disclaimers undercuts claims that a formal Crockett defamation filing exists based on Leavitt’s remarks [3] [5].

4. Other real lawsuits involving Leavitt or related media spats—different plaintiffs and claims

Separately, reporters and public figures have filed lawsuits connected to ambush interviews or reporting involving Leavitt; for example, coverage references David Muir filing a $50 million defamation suit tied to a live encounter involving Karoline Leavitt and ABC, but this is a different plaintiff and factual thread than the Crockett claim. Those filings show media and political confrontation have produced litigation in some cases, but they do not substitute for evidence that Jasmine Crockett herself sued over Leavitt’s words [4] [2].

5. Legal threshold: why exact wording matters and why context changes legal exposure

Defamation law hinges on precise language, speaker identity, context, and falsity. Even where Leavitt’s quoted line asserts an opinion or criticism—calling an accusation “incredibly derogatory”—courts often treat such statements differently than false factual assertions. The reported Leavitt line reads as rhetorical critique and invitation to observe, which is typically protected political expression absent demonstrably false factual claims. Absent a formal Crockett complaint alleging specific false factual statements, the reported quote alone would likely not meet many jurisdictions’ defamation standards [1] [4].

6. Reconciling sources: what the evidence reliably supports

Cross-checking the provided sources yields a consistent set of facts: there is a verifiable Leavitt quote criticizing Crockett’s characterization of Trump supporters, and there are separate lawsuits involving Leavitt and media figures; however, there is no credible, contemporaneous source in the supplied packet showing Jasmine Crockett filed a defamation suit against Leavitt based on a transcribed statement. Where fictional or entertainment-labeled accounts appear, they must be excluded from factual claims about litigation [1] [2] [3].

7. Bottom line and recommended next steps for verification

The bottom line: the only clear attributable words in the provided reporting are Leavitt’s line calling Crockett’s comment “incredibly derogatory to accuse nearly 80 million Americans of mental illness,” but there is no corroborated record that those words led to a Crockett defamation suit. To definitively resolve this, consult primary documents—court dockets for Jasmine Crockett, official complaint filings, or full transcripts from the exchange in question—and prioritize reputable outlets’ court reporting to confirm whether a civil action exists and the exact language pleaded [1] [4] [3].

Want to dive deeper?
What were the circumstances surrounding the Leavitt and Crockett defamation lawsuit?
How did the court rule in the Leavitt vs Crockett defamation case?
What were the financial implications of the lawsuit for Leavitt and Crockett?
Did Leavitt publicly apologize for the statements made about Crockett?
What was the reaction of the public and media to the Leavitt and Crockett defamation lawsuit?