On March 5, 2025, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt held a spirited press briefing, fresh off President Donald Trump’s address to a Joint Session of Congress the previous night. Delayed slightly after consulting with Trump on a “newsy day,” Leavitt opened with glowing praise for what she called a “historic and incredible” speech, touting its widespread approval and framing it as proof of Trump’s surging popularity and mandate for change.
A Speech That Resonated
Leavitt leaned on polls to bolster her case: a CBS/YouGov survey showed 76% of viewers approved of Trump’s address, while Daily Mail polling pegged his approval at historic highs. “More Americans believe America is headed in the right direction than the wrong direction,” she said, crediting Trump’s blunt style. “Every day Americans love this president because he tells it like it is, no matter what.” She highlighted his candid critique of Joe Biden’s economic legacy—blaming him for a 48-year inflation peak—and his pledge to “make America affordable again.”
The briefing spotlighted emotional moments from the speech, where Trump honored everyday Americans. Leavitt cited Mark Fogle, reunited with his 95-year-old mother after Russian detention; Payton McNab, whose injury spurred Trump’s ban on men in women’s sports; and the family of Laken Riley, immortalized via the Laken Riley Act. She also celebrated surprises like renaming a Texas wildlife refuge for murdered 12-year-old Jocelyn Nungaray and making 13-year-old cancer survivor DJ Daniel an honorary Secret Service agent. “The expectations were high, and President Trump is exceeding them,” she declared.
Justice for Abbey Gate
A major reveal came with Trump’s announcement of capturing Muhammad Sharif Fula, the terrorist behind the Abbey Gate bombing that killed 13 U.S. service members during Biden’s Afghanistan withdrawal. Leavitt detailed how Trump’s team, from day one, prioritized intelligence to nab Fula, who confessed to the attack and others after Pakistan aided his arrest late February. “He was delivered to Dallas Airfield this morning,” she said, promising “the swift sword of American justice” on U.S. soil. She contrasted this with Biden’s “three years of inaction,” noting Trump’s heartfelt call to Gold Star families before the speech.
Democrats’ “Disgraceful” Behavior
Leavitt didn’t hold back on Democrats, calling their conduct during the address “completely disgraceful” and “the most shameful moment” in presidential address history. She accused them of screaming at Trump, walking out, and disrespecting Americans by refusing to stand for victims like McNab, Riley, Nungaray, and Daniel. “They couldn’t even clap for a girl who got her head smashed in by a man on a volleyball court,” she fumed, noting their applause for Ukraine but not America. “It was a clarifying moment—Democrats exposed themselves as the party of insanity and hate.”
She also jabbed the media, slamming MSNBC’s Nicole Wallace for linking DJ Daniel to January 6th and CNN for labeling the speech “divisive” despite 69% of their viewers reacting positively. “It’s sad and pathetic that their hatred for the president overrides their love for our country,” she said, vowing Trump would unify the nation through “common-sense policies.”
Policy Updates and Pushback
Fielding questions, Leavitt confirmed Trump’s talks with Ford, GM, and Stellantis, granting a one-month tariff exemption on USMCA autos starting April 2 to ease economic pressure—a move he announced on social media. On Canada, she addressed Trump’s dissatisfaction with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau over fentanyl, citing a 2,000% surge in seizures at the northern border despite its small volume compared to Mexico. “There needs to be consequences,” she insisted, brushing off critiques of scale with an appeal to grieving families.
On women’s sports, Leavitt defended Trump’s executive order against Maine’s pushback, noting ongoing Department of Education litigation. “Eighty percent of Americans, including over 60% of Democrats, don’t want men in women’s sports,” she argued. She also clarified U.S. talks with Hamas as a “good faith effort” for hostages, deferring details to the State Department, and dismissed Panama’s denial of canal reclamation efforts, pointing to BlackRock’s port investments as progress.
Tariffs and Transparency
Pressed on tariffs’ economic “disturbance,” Leavitt refused to pin a dollar figure but emphasized Trump’s honesty about Biden’s “economic disaster” and his fixes: deregulation, tax cuts, and energy boosts. “He did it in his first term—Americans can trust him again,” she said. On press access, she rebuffed predecessor Karine Jean-Pierre’s North Korea comparison, touting Trump’s openness: “He takes far more questions than Biden ever did.”
A Unified Vision
Welcoming Daily Wire’s Mary Margaret Olohan as the first conservative outlet in the press pool, Leavitt framed the briefing as a testament to Trump’s commitment to transparency and Main Street. “This president keeps those families in mind every day,” she concluded, promising relentless action to deliver on his vision. As she exited, her message was clear: Trump’s agenda is rolling, and neither Democrats nor detractors will slow it down.
