(NewsNation) — New White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt addressed the media from the briefing room for the first time now as President Donald Trump‘s administration carries out his deportation promises.
Leavitt ushered in a new era of press briefings by announcing independent journalists, content creators, social media influencers and podcasters could apply for credentials to cover the White House.
The new press secretary told reporters drones seen regularly in New Jersey and other parts of the Northeast in recent months were “not a threat” and many of which were authorized by the FAA “for research.”
Leavitt also received questions on Trump’s federal grant pause, clarifying that individual assistance from the federal government will not be interrupted.
“That includes Social Security benefits, Medicare benefits, food stamps, [and] welfare benefits. The assistance that is going directly to individuals will not be impacted by this pause,” she told reporters.
“It is the responsibility of this president and this administration to be good stewards of taxpayer dollars,” Leavitt added.
“That is something that President Trump campaigned on, that’s why he launched DOGE (Department of Government Efficiency)…”
On Monday night, Trump told members of his party that he will push to allow for the deportation of repeat criminal offenders who are in the country legally.
He says it will cause crime nationwide to “dry up.”
“I also will be seeking permission to do so,” Trump said during an address of House Republicans at their annual policy retreat in Florida on Monday.
“We’re going to get approval, hopefully, to get them the hell out of our country, along with others, let them be brought to a foreign land and maintained by others for a very small fee, as opposed to being maintained in our jails for massive amounts of money.”
“That’s what Venezuela and other countries are doing. They’re getting rid of their criminals and putting them into the United States of America,” Trump said.
Deportation flights to Colombia have begun after its president caved to Trump’s wishes to allow the transportation of migrants illegally in the U.S. amid the threat of tariffs and other measures.
The Pentagon has moved 1,500 U.S. troops to the border, bringing the total of forces along the border to nearly 4,000. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth posted on X on Monday night: “This is only just the beginning. We will get 100% OPERATIONAL CONTROL of our nation’s border. It is about time.”
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt shared images on X of U.S. soldiers and Marines at the southern border, accompanied by a message: “Promise Made. Promise Kept.”
