By Janet Ekstract NEW YORK – On Wednesday, in a White House press briefing, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt accused the U.S. press of “fearmongering the American people into believing there is a constitutional crisis” at the White House. Leavitt echoed U.S. President Donald Trump’s rhetoric, accusing “district court judges in liberal districts across the country within our judicial branch” of “abusing their power” to “unilaterally block President Trump’s basic executive authority.” Leavitt claimed that the Trump administration believes “these judges are acting as judicial activists rather than honest arbiters of the law.” She further claimed that it’s “part of a larger concerted effort by Democrat activists and nothing short of the continuation of the weaponization of justice against President Trump.” Leavitt did stress that the Trump administration will “comply with the law and the courts” on any rulings but said every “legal remedy” would be sought to “overturn these radical injunctions.” When Leavitt was asked if this administration will “retaliate” against reporters for honest reporting, she replied that if the Trump administration thinks they’re telling lies, then those press will be held accountable. Throughout the press briefing, Leavitt praised President Trump as the consummate “dealmaker.”
Her comments were related to Elon Musk’s group known as the DOGE Workforce Optimization Initiative also known as the Department of Government Efficiency which has so far attempted to eliminate essential departments that several judges have blocked in court though one judge on Thursday gave permission to Trump to trim the federal workforce by dropping his objections. Leavitt went on to explain that Trump continues to “deliver on his promises to the American people.” She cited what she said is “new polling” from CBS news that 70 percent of Americans think Trump is following through on his pledges. She added that Americans view Trump as a “tough, energetic, focused, and effective leader, fighting hard to improve their lives and our country.” Leavitt mentioned the release of American teacher Marc Fogel who had been detained by Russia for over three years in a Russian prison. She also cited the release as a “good-faith effort from Russia” and “a sign” that things are “moving in the right direction to end this brutal war.”
The press secretary also ran through a number of executive orders she said that Trump already enacted, such as ending the use of paper straws, his new 25 percent tariff on steel and aluminum which she claims will protect America’s “national security” and “American workers.” Leavitt said that agency heads “will coordinate and consult with the DOGE Workforce Optimization Initiative to “shrink the size of the federal workforce and limit hiring to essential positions only.” She emphasized that it was crucial that the rest of Trump’s cabinet picks be “confirmed as quickly as possible.” She briefly ran down a list of “illegal aliens” already arrested and deported from the U.S. Leavitt praised Elon Musk’s cleanup of what she said are “waste” and “fraud” in a number of departments like Medicare and Medicaid and the delivery of Social Security checks to people who were already deceased.
Meanwhile, on Ukraine, Leavitt provided a statement from U.S. President Donald Trump on the phone call he had with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday morning, regarding a proposed peace agreement with Ukraine. Leavitt said Trump’s statement reads as follows: “I just spoke to President Zelenskyy of Ukraine. The conversation went very well. He, like President Putin, wants to make peace. We discussed a variety of topics having to do with the war, but mostly the meeting that is being set up on Friday in Munich, where Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio will lead the delegation. I am hopeful that the results of that meeting will be positive. It is time to stop this ridiculous war where there has been massive and totally unnecessary death and destruction. God bless the people of Russia and Ukraine.” Leavitt added that after she spoke to the president about the calls, that he indicated they were very positive and that his administration is “wholeheartedly committed” to a peace deal to end, “once and for all, the Russia-Ukraine war. Leavitt confirmed that Ukrainian President Zelensky will meet at the Munich Security Conference with Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio to discuss a proposed peace agreement with Russia.
Regarding the Gaza conflict, Leavitt referenced President Trump’s meeting with King Abdullah of Jordan on Tuesday, and said the meeting was “wonderful” and they discussed the situation regarding the Palestinians though they did not agree on everything, she said. She reiterated that “the president remains wholeheartedly committed to seeing peace in the Middle East.” She said “our Arab partners in the region have been tasked with coming up with a peace plan to present to the president. That is ongoing.” Leavitt added that King Abdullah agreed to accept 2,000 sick children from the Gaza Strip which Trump labeled a “beautiful gesture.” She also made it clear that the president “is not going to waver” on his plan for the U.S. to take over Gaza.
