New Hampshire native begins tenure as youngest White House press secretary in history
Updated: 6:35 PM EST Jan 28, 2025
ARIELLE MITROPOULOS IS HERE WITH THE QUESTIONS SHE TOOK TODAY. ARIELLE, TOM, OF COURSE WE KNOW KAROLINE LEAVITT VERY WELL AS SHE RAN FOR CONGRESS BACK IN 2022 AND SHE GREW UP IN ATKINSON. LEAVITT IS THE YOUNGEST PRESS SECRETARY IN HISTORY, AND TODAY SHE SPENT ABOUT 45 MINUTES SPEAKING AND ANSWERING QUESTIONS. IT’S BEEN A PACKED WEEK FOR THE WHITE HOUSE, AND LEAVITT MADE IT VERY CLEAR THAT THIS IS JUST THE BEGINNING. AFTER SOME OPENING REMARKS, WE HEARD HER MAKE SOME NEWS WITH COMMENTS DIRECTLY FROM THE PRESIDENT ABOUT THOSE DRONES THAT WERE FLYING OVER NEW JERSEY, SAYING THAT THEY WERE AUTHORIZED TO BE FLOWN BY THE FAA. SHE THEN TOOK QUESTIONS DEFENDING THE WHITE HOUSE’S MOVE TO PAUSE GRANTS AND LOANS FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT. SHE ALSO TALKED ABOUT BIRTHRIGHT CITIZENSHIP AND CRACKING DOWN ON ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION. 3500 ARRESTS ICE HAS MADE SO FAR SINCE PRESIDENT TRUMP CAME BACK INTO OFFICE. CAN YOU JUST TELL US THE NUMBERS? HOW MANY HAVE A CRIMINAL RECORD VERSUS THOSE WHO ARE JUST IN THE COUNTRY ILLEGALLY? ALL OF THEM, BECAUSE THEY ILLEGALLY BROKE OUR NATION’S LAWS AND THEREFORE THEY ARE CRIMINALS. AS FAR AS THIS ADMINISTRATION GOES. I KNOW THE LAST ADMINISTRATION DIDN’T SEE IT THAT WAY. SO IT’S A BIG CULTURE SHIFT IN OUR NATION TO VIEW SOMEONE WHO BREAKS OUR IMMIGRATION LAWS IS A CRIMINAL. BUT THAT’S EXACTLY WHAT THEY ARE. NOW, LEAVITT ALSO PROMISED TO SPEAK TO THE MEDIA OFTEN, AND SHE OPENED UP THE PRESS BRIEFINGS TO PODCASTERS AND SOCI
New Hampshire native begins tenure as youngest White House press secretary in history
Updated: 6:35 PM EST Jan 28, 2025
The White House held its first press briefing Tuesday, and the press secretary leading it was New Hampshire native Karoline Leavitt.Leavitt, who grew up in Atkinson and ran for the U.S. House seat in the 1st Congressional District in 2022, is the youngest White House press secretary in history.She spent about 45 minutes on Tuesday speaking and answering questions during what has been a packed week for the White House.>> Subscribe to WMUR’s YouTube channel <<Leavitt made it very clear that what the Trump administration has done so far is just the beginning. After some opening remarks, Leavitt made some news with comments directly from the president about the drones that were seen flying over New Jersey in recent weeks.Leavitt said the drones were authorized to be flown by the Federal Aviation Administration and were not related to any foreign enemies of the country. Leavitt then took questions, defending the White House’s move to pause grants and loans from the federal government. That move has been temporarily blocked by a federal judge.She also talked birthright citizenship and the administration’s efforts to crack down on illegal immigration. She said the administration has made 3,500 arrests thus far.She was asked how many of those who were arrested by Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers have criminal records. “All of them, because they illegally broke our nation’s laws and therefore, they are criminals, as far as this administration goes. I know the last administration didn’t see it that way, so it’s a big culture shift in our nation to view someone who breaks out immigration laws as a criminal, but that’s exactly what they are,” Leavitt said.Leavitt also promised to speak often to the media and opened up the press briefings to podcasters and social media influencers. >> Download the free WMUR app to get updates on the go: Apple | Google Play <<
MANCHESTER, N.H. —The White House held its first press briefing Tuesday, and the press secretary leading it was New Hampshire native Karoline Leavitt.
Leavitt, who grew up in Atkinson and ran for the U.S. House seat in the 1st Congressional District in 2022, is the youngest White House press secretary in history.
She spent about 45 minutes on Tuesday speaking and answering questions during what has been a packed week for the White House.
>> Subscribe to WMUR’s YouTube channel <<
Leavitt made it very clear that what the Trump administration has done so far is just the beginning.
After some opening remarks, Leavitt made some news with comments directly from the president about the drones that were seen flying over New Jersey in recent weeks.
Leavitt said the drones were authorized to be flown by the Federal Aviation Administration and were not related to any foreign enemies of the country.
Leavitt then took questions, defending the White House’s move to pause grants and loans from the federal government. That move has been temporarily blocked by a federal judge.
She also talked birthright citizenship and the administration’s efforts to crack down on illegal immigration. She said the administration has made 3,500 arrests thus far.
She was asked how many of those who were arrested by Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers have criminal records.
“All of them, because they illegally broke our nation’s laws and therefore, they are criminals, as far as this administration goes. I know the last administration didn’t see it that way, so it’s a big culture shift in our nation to view someone who breaks out immigration laws as a criminal, but that’s exactly what they are,” Leavitt said.
Leavitt also promised to speak often to the media and opened up the press briefings to podcasters and social media influencers.
>> Download the free WMUR app to get updates on the go: Apple | Google Play <<
