White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt tore into her predecessor, former Press Secretary Jen Psaki, over an X post attacking those who responded to Wednesday’s tragic school shooting by offering prayers.
During Thursday’s briefing, Leavitt told members of the Press Corps that she had seen Psaki’s post and thought it was extremely disrespectful of her to dismiss the beliefs of many Americans who value prayer.
WATCH:
With class and calm, Karoline Leavitt just absolutely wrecked Jen Psaki for mocking the power of prayer:
“I saw the comments of my predecessor, Jen Psaki, I think they’re incredibly insensitive and disrespectful to the tens of millions of Americans of faith across this country… https://t.co/Mk595Sq1Dn pic.twitter.com/cHLb31pWSR
— Charlie Kirk (@charliekirk11) August 28, 2025
“Yes, I saw the comments of my predecessor, Ms. Psaki, and frankly, I think they’re incredibly insensitive and disrespectful to the tens of millions of Americans of faith across this country who believe in the power of prayer, who believe that prayer works, and who believe that on a morning like this, when beautiful young children were killed while praying in a church, it’s utterly disrespectful to deride the power of prayer in this country,” Leavitt said. “And it’s disrespectful to the millions of Americans of faith, and I would encourage Ms. Psaki to pray for these families themselves, who need it right now more than ever.”
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Psaki posted on Wednesday, shortly after news broke of the deadly shooting, saying, “Prayer is not freaking enough. Prayers does not end school shootings. prayers do not make parents feel safe sending their kids to school. Prayer does not bring these kids back. Enough with the thoughts and prayers.”
Prayer is not freaking enough. Prayers does not end school shootings. prayers do not make parents feel safe sending their kids to school. Prayer does not bring these kids back. Enough with the thoughts and prayers.
— Jen Psaki (@jrpsaki) August 27, 2025
Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey, also a Democrat, made a similar comment during a press conference on Wednesday in an effort to direct the conversation toward gun control: “Don’t just say this is about thoughts and prayers right now, these kids were literally praying. It was the first week of school, they were in a church.”