Key Takeaways from WH Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt’s Inaugural Press Briefing – One America News Network
OAN Staff Gabriella Sable
3:15 PM – Tuesday, January 28, 2025
In her inaugural press briefing as White House Press Secretary, Karoline Leavitt highlighted significant topics, including media access to the White House, the halt on federal grants, and the administration’s stance on illegal immigration. She underscored initiatives to enhance media engagement, ensure accountability for federal funds, and define priorities for deportation.
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Leavitt commenced the briefing by stating that the White House would be accommodating nontraditional media outlets.
“It’s critical for our team to disseminate President Trump’s message across all platforms and adapt this White House to the evolving media environment of 2025,” Leavitt remarked.
“We are also welcoming new media voices that create news-related content, particularly those whose outlets are not already represented in this briefing room. Independent journalists, podcasters, social media influencers, and content creators are invited to apply for credentials to cover this White House,” she added.
She also announced that the seats typically held by the press secretary’s staff would now be designated for new media representatives.
“From today onward, this front-row seat, generally occupied by the press secretary’s staff, will be designated as the new media seat,” Leavitt stated.
Leavitt indicated that the White House plans to reinstate press passes for journalists whose credentials were revoked during the Biden-Harris administration.
“This administration strongly supports the First Amendment, which is why we will strive to restore the press passes for the 440 journalists whose credentials were unjustly taken by the prior administration,” Leavitt explained.
Furthermore, Leavitt reassured both the American public and journalists that the recent moratorium on federal grants would not impact those receiving federal assistance.
“This is not a blanket moratorium on federal aid from the Trump administration,” Leavitt clarified. “Assistance directly provided to individuals—such as Social Security benefits, Medicare, food stamps, and welfare—will remain unaffected by this hold.”
According to Leavitt, the freeze on federal grants aims to safeguard American taxpayer dollars.
“It is our duty as this president and administration to responsibly manage taxpayer funds,” Leavitt stated. “This was a cornerstone of President Trump’s campaign. That’s why he has initiated the Department of Government Efficiency, collaborating with the [Office of Management and Budget].”
She noted that another motive for the pause is to ensure that grants disbursed do not contradict executive orders signed by President Trump.
“This prompted OMB to release a memo last night, as the president directed them to do so,” Leavitt elaborated. “The purpose is to verify that every dollar appropriated aligns with the executive orders and actions taken by this president.”
“This means an end to funding for illegal DEI programs, halting the Green New Scam that has drained billions from American taxpayers, stopping funding for transgender initiatives and wokeness in our federal agencies, and ceasing support for Green New Deal social engineering policies,” Leavitt detailed.
Leavitt contended that the influx of federal programs and grants has contributed to the inflation crisis.
“This has played a significant role in the inflation crisis we are facing, and it is our responsibility to ensure that every cent is accounted for transparently,” she concluded.
During the briefing, Leavitt also fielded questions concerning mass deportation and priorities regarding removals.
When asked about who would be prioritized for deportation, Leavitt stated that all individuals who unlawfully enter the United States can be considered criminal and are therefore subject to removal.
“[President Trump] is intent on initiating the most extensive deportation operation in U.S. history targeting illegal offenders,” Leavitt warned. “If a foreign national illegally enters this country, that categorizes them as a criminal.”
Leavitt specified that while violent illegal immigrants would be the primary concern, that does not exclude non-violent offenders from being expelled.
“We aim to deport illegal offenders from this nation, especially those involved in heinous crimes including drug trafficking, sexual assault, murder, and other severe offenses that threaten the safety of law-abiding citizens,” she clarified. “However, it does not eliminate the possibility of removing other illegal criminals.”
Moreover, she remarked that ICE officers feel recognized and empowered to perform their duties.
“We receive daily updates from DHS and ICE, indicating that agents are feeling significantly empowered now since they have a leader in this building who supports their work,” Leavitt noted. “They are fulfilling their responsibilities of detaining, arresting, and deporting illegal offenders who have breached our borders during the past four years.”
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