Karoline Leavitt cuts off a reporter asking a question about Trump’s claim that the U.S. succeeded in its goal of forcing regime change in Iran.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt discussed a range of topics including the partial government shutdown impacting the Department of Homeland Security which has entered its 40th day.(Image: Getty Images)
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt held a press briefing at 1:00 pm on Wednesday, March 25.
The briefing addressed two key issues: the war with Iran and the ongoing congressional stalemate regarding funding for parts of the Homeland Security Department.
At the end of the press conference, Leavitt took questions from reporters. When one reporter asked skeptically about Iran’s ‘regime change,’ Leavitt was quick to shut down the question.
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“The president yesterday said that he had achieved regime change in Iran because the regime has changed.” He began to pose question, “In terms of-” when Leavitt cut him
off in the middle of his sentence.
“I mean has it not?” she asked. “Well, their leadership,” he tried to respond but she cut him off again.
“Their entire leadership has been killed,” she said with a big smile across her face. “Nobody has seen or really legitimately heard from this alleged new leader. So, wouldn’t you say there has been a change in the regime?” she asked.
“There’s been a change in leadership,” he concurred, then tried again to ask his question but Leavitt wasn’t having it.
“There has been a change in the regime leadership, which is what the president said. Thank you for confirming he is right,” she said, then moved on before the reporter could respond.
“Change in leadership doesn’t mean change in regime. If it’s the same administration then it’s the same regime,” someone commented under the clip on X. “So they consider the supreme leader’s son taking over a “regime change”? I think the Iranian people seeking freedom would disagree,” said another.
“Dear Misleader who promised no wars, no regime change, no taxpayers money wasted on wars, no boots on the ground. How many lies?” one X user asked.
This morning, Iran rejected a U.S. ceasefire offer and instead presented its own list of conditions for bringing the war to an end, one of which would mean giving Tehran control over the Strait of Hormuz.
While Washington proposed their own terms for peace, it is also escalating its military presence, with thousands of Marines and sailors already en route to the Middle East, and at least 1,000 troops from the 82nd Airborne Division preparing to join them.
The ongoing war in the Middle East has entered its fourth week, resulting in over 2,000 fatalities across the region. The Iranian Red Crescent Society reports that Israeli and American strikes have killed more than 1,200 people in Iran. Additionally, at least 1,000 people have died in Lebanon, and 17 people have been killed in Israel. The conflict has also claimed the lives of 13 U.S. service members.
On top of this, funding for the Department of Homeland Security has stalled as Democrats and Republicans clash over how the money is allocated. Democrats are attempting to block comprehensive DHS funding, seeking to exclude Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Customs and Border Protection from the legislation and instead focus on funding the Transportation Security Administration, Coast Guard, and Federal Emergency Management Agency.
Because of this, TSA agents have gone without pay for over a month now. Hours-long lines are flooding airports as employees are skipping work until their pay is reinstated or quitting altogether.
A recent proposal to fund the Department of Homeland Security, excluding Immigration and Customs Enforcement, with Republicans then funding ICE separately through the difficult reconciliation process, was rejected by Trump.
“I don’t think we should make any deal with the Crazy, Country Destroying, Radical Left Democrats unless, and until, they Vote with Republicans to pass ‘THE SAVE AMERICA ACT,’” Trump stated on Truth Social over the weekend.
