Jimmy Fallon Pitches Karoline Leavitt an ‘Easier’ Gig as Spokeswoman for Diarrhea Lettuce Farm

Jimmy Fallon floated the idea that outgoing White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt could trade the Trump administration for an “easier job” as spokeswoman for the lettuce supplier linked to a nationwide outbreak of an intestinal illness that causes explosive diarrhea.

President Donald Trump confirmed Leavitt’s exit Wednesday, just weeks after she returned from maternity leave following the birth of her second child.

Her decision to step down at the end of August marks an abrupt change in the president’s communications operation and leaves the White House searching for a new public face heading into the fall.

Leavitt’s surprise departure from the White House gave The Tonight Show host fresh material on Wednesday night, hours after the president’s announcement. But while others were speculating about who would replace her, Fallon turned his attention to Leavitt’s next move.

“Some more big news. Today, Trump announced that Karoline Leavitt is resigning as White House press secretary,” Fallon told his audience, prompting scattered mock cries of disappointment before cheers and applause.

“That story again, Karoline Leavitt was definitely one of the staffers left on Air Force One,” he continued, referencing the president’s assassination threat escape. “It’s like, ‘Oh, really? You didn’t take me?’”

Fallon then offered his own theory about what might come next for the departing press secretary: “Yeah, apparently, she’s moving on to an easier job working as the press secretary for Taylor Farms lettuce.”

The gag referenced the produce supplier that has faced scrutiny for weeks over a major outbreak of cyclosporiasis, an intestinal illness caused by the Cyclospora parasite.

The outbreak, which affected thousands of people across multiple states and hit Michigan and Ohio particularly hard, was associated with symptoms including prolonged diarrhea, stomach cramps, and nausea.

Federal health authorities and epidemiological evidence initially pointed to shredded iceberg lettuce sourced from a Taylor Farms operation in central Mexico as a suspected source.

Watch above via NBC.

New: The Mediaite One-Sheet "Newsletter of Newsletters"
Your daily summary and analysis of what the many, many media newsletters are saying and reporting. Subscribe now!