Name: Takeaways From White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt's First Briefing
Uploaded: 2025-01-29T10:31:10.000Z
Description: White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt addressed members of the media on Tuesday in the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xJOgsQQYDY4">first White House briefing</a> of President Donald Trump's new term.

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White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt addressed members of the media on Tuesday in the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xJOgsQQYDY4">first White House briefing</a> of President Donald Trump's new term.

For nearly an hour, Leavitt clarified some hot-button topics in the James S. Brady Press Briefing Room in the West Wing.

Here are some key takeaways from the briefing:
<h2>Federal Funding Freeze</h2>
The press secretary addressed concerns and clarified Trump’s <a href="https://www.reuters.com/world/trump-orders-pause-all-federal-grants-loans-2025-01-28/">federal funding freeze</a>.

Leavitt stressed that the pause in federal assistance is temporary and individual Americans will not lose their benefits, including social security and welfare benefits. Americans who receive individual assistance from the federal government will continue to receive it.

“This is not a blanket pause on federal assistance and grant programs from the Trump administration,” she said.

Leavitt said that Americans elected Trump and gave him a mandate to “increase the impact of every federal dollar” and to be a “good steward of taxpayer dollars.”

She did not provide a timeline for when the pause will be lifted, but said that the Office of Management and Budget is reviewing all federal funding.
<h2>Mass Deportations</h2>
Leavitt was pressed on Trump’s illegal immigration crackdown and was asked to clarify whether illegal immigrants with a criminal history are the first targets in the initial sweeps.

Illegal immigrants who have committed crimes will continue to be a priority in targeted enforcement operations, but that does not mean others are off the table, according to the press secretary.

“If you are an individual, a foreign national, who illegally enters the United States of America, you are, by definition, a criminal. And therefore, you are subject to deportation," she said.

She added that illegal immigrants who overstay their visas are also subject to deportation.
<h2>Birthright Citizenship</h2>
Leavitt was also pressed on Trump's <a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/01/protecting-the-meaning-and-value-of-american-citizenship/">executive order</a> denying U.S. citizenship to children born to parents who are in the country illegally.

She reiterated that the Trump administration believes birthright citizenship is unconstitutional for “illegal immigrants who come to this country and have a child.”

She also said that the administration has already appealed a <a href="https://apnews.com/article/birthright-citizenship-trump-lawsuit-immigration-21b7a941442e598003e390da09893071">lawsuit</a> challenging Trump’s executive order on birthright citizenship and that the administration is ready to take the issue all the way to the Supreme Court if needed.
<h2>High Price of Eggs</h2>
Leavitt blamed the previous administration for the high price of eggs, citing that prices skyrocketed 65 percent in 2024 under former President Joe Biden.

She explained that Biden’s Department of Agriculture “directed the mass killing of more than one hundred million chickens,” which led to a supply shortage of chickens and eggs.

Leavitt attributed the increase in grocery and gas prices to the Biden administration's inflationary measures.
<h2>Drones</h2>
Leavitt delivered a statement from Trump about the drones that have been spotted hovering over New Jersey.

“After research and study, the drones that were flying over New Jersey in large numbers were authorized to be flown by the FAA for research and various other reasons. Many of these drones were also hobbyist, recreational, and private individuals that enjoy flying drones. In time, it got worse, due to curiosity. This was not the enemy.”
<h2>Media Access</h2>
The press secretary promised media transparency and accessibility.

Leavitt stressed that the Trump administration will be highly accessible to the media. The White House has already offered media passes to new outlets that were previously denied access to press briefings under the Biden administration.

The White House has also "restored the press passes to those 440 journalists whose access was wrongly revoked."

She announced that press briefings will be opened up to "new media voices" or less traditional media, including podcasters, influencers, and independent journalists. She also said that the White House will speak to all journalists, not just "legacy media," citing a <a href="https://news.gallup.com/poll/651977/americans-trust-media-remains-trend-low.aspx">Gallup poll</a> that showed Americans' trust in media has fallen to a record low.

Leavitt also said that Trump is the "most transparent and accessible president," noting that Trump himself has held multiple press conferences and round tables during his first week in office.
<h2>A Voice for Trump</h2>
Prior to her new role, Leavitt was a spokesperson for Trump’s 2024 presidential campaign and transition. At 27 years old, Leavitt is the <a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-leavitt-white-house-first-press-briefing-5ba5ff116e18c29b04c934a24a8983d1">youngest</a> person to serve as White House press secretary.

The press room was noticeably packed with journalists for the first White House briefing.

"President Trump is back and the golden age has most definitely begun," Leavitt said in her opening remarks.

She outlined Trump's accomplishments in his first week in office, including 300 executive actions, deportations, and restoring common sense to the federal government.

Leavitt said Trump is taking action to lower everyday costs for Americans, direct all executive departments and agencies to help deliver emergency relief to the American people, untangle Biden's regulatory constraints, and end the reckless war on American energy.

She also said the U.S. Senate has confirmed five of Trump's nominees so far and called on the upper chamber to act on the rest of them as quickly as possible.

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