Donald Trump's choice to be his White House counselor says Democrats and the mainstream media should stop covering the president-elect and MAGA like they're part of a "soap opera."
Alina Habba, a member of the legal team that defended Trump in his New York business records trial, told DailyMail.com that liberal smears against her and other MAGA allies no longer "faze" her.
She added that the mainstream media risks losing Americans' trust entirely.
"I would just urge the media to focus on policy and real issues rather than ad hominem [personal] attacks," Habba told the outlet last week. "I think that's a waste of everybody's energy.
"You know, this is not a soap opera. … This is running the country, and it needs to be taken seriously."
Habba cited how Democrats are working to create public smear campaigns against some of Trump’s more controversial Cabinet nominations including Kash Patel (FBI), Pete Hegseth (DOD) and Tulsi Gabbard (National Intelligence).
"I think it's disgusting what they've been doing to certain people that have been nominated — Kash Patel and Pete Hegseth, in particular," Habba told DailyMail.com.
"These are incredibly intelligent people that deserve the right to sit down, have conversations and get confirmed for the right reasons — and go through the process the proper way … and they're willing to do that.
"But I think that the media attacks in this country need to stop. Not for our sake, but for the media's sake, because people just don't give them any credence anymore."
Habba frequently accompanied Trump on the campaign trail and was one of the speakers at the late October rally in New York's Madison Square Garden.
In naming Habba to be counselor to the president, Trump cited her "unwavering loyalty."
"She has been unwavering in her loyalty and unmatched in her resolve — standing with me through numerous 'trials,' battles and countless days in Court," Trump posted on Truth Social. "Few understand the Weaponization of the 'Injustice' System better than Alina."
The Associated Press contributed to this story.
Charlie McCarthy ✉
Charlie McCarthy, a writer/editor at Newsmax, has nearly 40 years of experience covering news, sports, and politics.
© 2026 Newsmax. All rights reserved.