2025-01-28 Press Briefing: Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt Briefs Members of the Media, Jan. 28, 2025

 

🗣️ Main Points Covered

  • Introduction and Acknowledgment:

    • Press Secretary Leavitt welcomed both familiar and new faces in the briefing room, emphasizing the administration's commitment to engaging with a diverse range of media outlets.

  • Cabinet Confirmations:

    • The Senate confirmed five of President Trump's Cabinet nominees: Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, CIA Director John Ratcliffe, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent.

    • Leavitt urged the Senate to continue confirming the remaining nominees promptly.

  • Executive Actions and Policy Initiatives:

    • Since taking office, President Trump has signed over 300 executive actions.

    • The administration has secured nearly $1 trillion in U.S. investments.

    • Efforts have been made to deport illegal alien criminals, including rapists, gang members, and suspected terrorists.

    • The administration has focused on restoring common sense to the federal government.

  • Border Security Measures:

    • President Trump declared a national emergency at the southern border to address illegal immigration.

    • An executive order was signed to end catch and release and to complete the construction of the border wall.

    • Sanctions and tariffs were imposed on the Colombian government after they denied a U.S. military aircraft carrying deported Colombian citizens.

  • Media Engagement and New Media Initiatives:

    • The administration is committed to engaging with all media outlets, including new media voices such as independent journalists, podcasters, and social media influencers.

    • A new media seat was introduced in the briefing room, and a platform was launched for new media outlets to apply for credentials.

    • The administration aims to restore press passes for journalists whose credentials were revoked by the previous administration.

  • AI and Technology Policy:

    • President Trump signed executive orders to roll back regulations on the AI industry.

    • David Sacks was appointed as the first AI and crypto czar to lead efforts in restoring American AI dominance.

    • The National Security Council is assessing national security implications related to AI advancements.

  • Personnel Decisions and Legal Authority:

    • The White House Office of Management and Budget directed an across-the-board freeze on federal grants, with exceptions for individual assistance.

    • Leavitt emphasized the president's executive authority to make personnel decisions within the executive branch, referencing the Seila Law LLC v. Consumer Financial Protection Bureau case.

    • The administration expressed confidence in prevailing in court if lawsuits were filed by fired prosecutors.

  • Economic Policies and Inflation:

    • Leavitt addressed concerns about rising egg prices, attributing them to inflationary policies from the previous administration.

    • She highlighted the importance of confirming President Trump's nominee for the United States Department of Agriculture, Brooke Rollins, to address agricultural issues.

📰 Press Q&A Highlights

  • Engagement with New Media:

    • Leavitt emphasized the administration's commitment to engaging with new media outlets to reach a broader audience.

    • She encouraged independent journalists and content creators to apply for press credentials through the new media platform.

  • AI and Technology Policy:

    • In response to questions about AI policy, Leavitt reiterated the administration's efforts to restore American dominance in AI and technology sectors.

    • She mentioned ongoing assessments by the National Security Council regarding national security implications of AI advancements.

  • Personnel Decisions and Legal Authority:

    • Leavitt defended the administration's personnel decisions, citing the president's executive authority.

    • She referenced legal precedents to support the administration's actions and expressed confidence in prevailing in potential legal challenges.

  • Economic Policies and Inflation:

    • Leavitt addressed concerns about rising egg prices, attributing them to inflationary policies from the previous administration.

    • She emphasized the need for swift confirmation of key nominees to address economic challenges.

✅ Key Takeaways with Supporting Quotes

  • Engagement with New Media:

    • "We’re also opening up this briefing room to new media voices who produce news-related content and whose outlet is not already represented by one of the seats in this room."

    • "You can apply now on our new website, WhiteHouse.gov/NewMedia."

  • AI and Technology Policy:

    • "President Trump believes in restoring American AI dominance, and that’s why he took very strong executive action this past week to sign executive orders to roll back some of the onerous regulations on the AI industry."

    • "And President Trump has also proudly appointed the first AI and crypto czar at this White House, David Sacks."

  • Personnel Decisions and Legal Authority:

    • "It is the belief of this White House and the White House Counsel’s Office that the president was within his executive authority to do that."

    • "There’s also a case that went before the Supreme Court in 2020: Seila Law LLC v. the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau."

  • Economic Policies and Inflation:

    • "We also have seen the cost of everything, not just eggs — bacon, groceries, gasoline — have increased because of the inflationary policies of the last administration."

    • "So, I will leave you with this point. This is an example of why it’s so incredibly important that the Senate moves swiftly to confirm all of President Trump’s nominees, including his nominee for the United States Department of Agriculture, Brooke Rollins."

       

       

      References: 

      https://www.whitehouse.gov/videos/press-secretary-karoline-leavitt-briefs-members-of-the-media-jan-28-2025/ 

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