Karoline Leavitt takes the podium
The following day, newly appointed White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, the youngest person ever to hold the position, took the podium for a live White House briefing. Leavitt framed Trump’s address as a defining moment in his presidency, claiming he was “renewing the American dream” and that Americans “loved what they heard.” She cited a CBS/YouGov poll showing a 76% approval rating from viewers and insisted that Trump’s popularity was at an all-time high.
Leavitt also emphasized fentanyl as the leading cause of death in America, a crisis the administration is positioning as a national emergency. She accused Canada and Mexico of allowing the U.S. to become a “dumping ground” for illegal drugs and defended Trump’s proposed tariffs on China, Canada, and Mexico as necessary measures to combat the crisis. When pressed on the relatively low amount of fentanyl seized at the northern border, Leavitt deflected, insisting that even a small amount was too much and that critics questioning the tariffs were “disrespectful” to families affected by the epidemic.
Beyond policy, Leavitt highlighted emotional moments from Trump’s speech, including his recognition of crime victims and Gold Star families. She condemned Democrats for refusing to stand or clap for individuals Trump honored, arguing that their reaction "exposed them as the party of insanity and hate."
