During Biden’s speech on Social Security at a national conference in Chicago, Leavitt was asked to comment. Her response: “My first reaction when seeing former President Biden was speaking tonight was, I’m shocked that he is speaking at nighttime. I thought his bedtime was much earlier than his speech tonight.”The age-related remark, aimed at the 81-year-old former president, quickly went viral. While Leavitt also spoke about Trump’s commitment to Social Security, many couldn’t get past what they viewed as a dig rooted in ageism.

“President Trump is absolutely certain about protecting Social Security benefits for law-abiding, tax-paying American citizens and seniors who have paid into this program,” she stated. “He will always protect this program. He campaigned on it. He protected it in his first term, and he’s back again to continue protecting it.”

Still, it was her first comment that lit up social media. Critics flooded Facebook and Instagram with comments calling her tone disrespectful and juvenile. One user pointed out her marriage to a man 32 years her senior, writing, “No class at all. Shame on you. How old is your HUSBAND?” Others described her remarks as “inappropriate,” “condescending,” and “not needed.”